Melbourne magistrate grants bail to 65-year-old alleged Islamic State supporter
A Melbourne magistrate has approved bail for Mohamed Musse Bakit, a 65-year-old man charged with five terrorism-related offences, citing his age, health and family circumstances.
In a Melbourne Magistrates Court hearing, Deputy Chief Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge approved bail for Mohamed Musse Bakit, 65, who faces five charges including intentional membership in a terrorist organization. Defense counsel argued that Bakit's advanced age, clean criminal record, existing health issues and his wife's reliance on him warranted release. The magistrate agreed, describing these factors as exceptional.
Bakit first came under scrutiny in November 2020 when Australian Border Force stopped him en route to Egypt; devices seized then and after a 2021 return contained extremist videos. Federal police raided his Carlton home in July 2024, seizing further storage media that allegedly held 9,754 WhatsApp messages, thousands of images, audio, video and documents promoting the Islamic State, including a December 2018 pledge of allegiance.
Why it matters
The bail decision highlights how courts balance national security concerns with individual humanitarian factors.
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