Four men of ‘Tinnie terrorists’ jailed after plot to overthrow Phillipines government foiled

Four men dubbed the ‘tinnie terrorists’ have been jailed for plotting to sail a fishing boat from northern Australia to help overthrow the Philippines government.

Paul Dacre, 33, Antonino Granta, 28, Kadir Kaya, 24, and Murat Kaya, 28, were part of a six-man team who wanted to bring Islamic law to the country in May 2016.

Influenced by Islamic preacher Robert ‘Musa’ Cerantonio, they hatched a plan to sail north so Cerantonio could encourage others to overthrow the Filipino government.

While Dacre, Granta and Kadir Kaya (pictured) were each sentenced to four years in jail with a three-year non-parole period, Murat Kaya was only given a three year and eight months jail sentence

Four men dubbed the ‘tinnie terrorists’ have been jailed for plotting to sail a fishing boat from northern Australia to help overthrow the Philippines government (pictured, Antonino Granta)

They intended to secretly sail to the Phillipines as none of them had valid Australian passports.

None of them had any boating experience either.

While Dacre, Granta and Kadir Kaya were each sentenced to four years in jail with a three-year non-parole period, Murat Kaya was only given a three year and eight months jail sentence.

He could be free as early as next Wednesday after spending more than 1,000 days in custody.

Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher said he believed allowing their release on parole at the earliest possible opportunity would foster rehabilitation and better protect the community in the long-term.

If the attorney-general supports that view, Murat Kaya could be released as early as February 27 – next Wednesday – and Dacre, Granata and Kadir Kaya from May 10 this year.

Murat Kaya was arrested in terror raids in Melbourne in May 2016, shortly after the arrest of his younger brother Kadir Kaya, associates Paul James Dacre, Antonio Alfio Granata, Shayden Jamil Thorne and ringleader Robert ‘Musa’ Cerantonio.

They were picked up by Australian Federal Police driving near Cairns, towing a seven-metre fishing boat they intended to sail from Cape York in what Justice Croucher on Friday predicted would have been a ‘doomed voyage’.

Murat Kaya had originally intended to travel with them, but pulled out and was not part of plans the men had for their wives and children to later join them.

All six pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in conduct in preparation for incursions into foreign countries for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities, aiming to overthrow the Philippines government.

Thorne was the last to plead guilty, on Friday morning, meaning the previous confessions of his co-conspirators could be made public. He is due to face a pre-sentence plea hearing next week.

Cerantonio, described by Justice Croucher as the ‘charismatic and persuasive’ ringleader, will face a plea hearing in March.

Influenced by Islamic preacher Robert ‘Musa’ Cerantonio (pictured), the ‘tinnie terrorists’ hatched a plan to sail north so Cerantonio could encourage others to overthrow the Filipino government

Murat Kaya was arrested in terror raids in Melbourne in May 2016, shortly after the arrest of his younger brother Kadir Kaya, associates Paul James Dacre, Antonio Alfio Granata, Shayden Jamil Thorne (pictured) and ringleader Robert ‘Musa’ Cerantonio

Four men dubbed ‘tinnie terrorists’ have been jailed for their roles in a plot to sail a fishing boat (pictured) from northern Australia to help overthrow the Philippines government