An Australian man who bought stolen military rocket launchers has been sentenced to more than three years in prison after a judge determined he was aware that reselling the weapons might put them into the hands of terrorists. Taha Abdul Rahman, 30, of Sydney, pleaded guilty in New South Wales District Court to buying prohibited weapons without authority and receiving stolen defense force goods.
Abdul Rahman bought seven rocket launchers from an associate of former Australian army captain Shane Della-Vedova in 2003. Della-Vedova was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May for stealing the M-72 shoulder-fired weapons from the military and selling them.
Judge Mark Marien described Abdul Rahman as a "middle man," and said the father of two sold one of the weapons to a gang leader with terrorist links.
The rest of the rocket launchers are still missing.
Marien told the court there was no evidence Abdul Rahman was aware of the gang leader's intentions but said he "would have clearly been aware that the rocket launchers would have likely ended up in the hands of criminals and possible terrorist offenders."
He called the offenses "a grave threat to public order and safety."
Abdul Rahman will be eligible for release in one year because of time served since his 2007 arrest. He had faced life in prison if convicted of all 17 offenses with which he was originally charged.
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