SYDNEY, Australia -- The first person charged in Australia with recruiting and sending fighters to Syria was convicted Tuesday of recruiting six foreign fighters.
Hamdi Alqudsi, 42, had pleaded not guilty in the New South Wales state Supreme Court in Sydney to seven counts of recruiting men from June until October in 2013 to travel from Australia to Syria to fight with Jabhat al-Nusra and other al-Qaida affiliates.
A jury on Tuesday found him guilty of six counts then continued deliberations on the charge relating to the seventh man.
Each offence carries a potential maximum of 10 years in prison. The same offence committed since legislation was amended in 2014 carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.
At least two of the recruits died in Syria. A sentencing date has yet to be set.
