Naveed Akram: Family’s jail visit called off at last minute after disturbing find

A prison visit to the man accused of the Bondi Beach shooting massacre has been called off at the last minute after authorities made a disturbing find.

Naveed Akram, 24, is behind bars in NSW’s High Risk Management Correctional Centre in Goulburn, facing 59 charges including terrorism and murder for allegedly joining his father to carry out Australia’s deadliest terrorist attack on December 14.

A visit by the accused gunman’s family, including his mother, grandmother and siblings, on the weekend was scotched due to security concerns.

“It’s our understanding a number of items have been located during a security check of the car,” radio station 2GB host Ben Fordham revealed on his program on Wednesday morning.

“There was some notes found inside the vehicle. There was also a small knife located and our sources tell us it was a small fruit knife, we have been told and we’ve had it confirmed that the items did not meet any extremist threshold.”

A Corrective Services NSW spokesperson confirmed that suspected contraband was discovered after a search of a visitor’s car on Saturday.

“NSW Police were notified and conducted further searches. The visit was subsequently cancelled,” the spokesperson said.

They did not confirm what items were found during the search, however The Daily Telegraph reports the notes found during the search included a fictional story about a murder written by Akram’s brother, Adam.

The report cites police sources as saying Akram had told them the notes were part of a “fictitious” story about a killing.

However, officers had deemed the writing was not religiously motivated or hate speech.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said prison staff called in counter terrorism officers to investigate further but were “satisfied that it is not terrorist related material”.

No charges have been laid.

Fifteen people were killed and 40 injured after Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, allegedly opened fire on Hannukah celebrations at Bondi Beach.

Sajid Akram, was shot and killed during the attack. Naveed was shot and injured and spent time at the Long Bay Correctional Centre, where it is understood he stayed in a wing that provides hospital care, before moving to the Supermax prison in Goulburn on January 5.

During an appearance via videolink in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court last week, Akram appeared with his hair freshly shaven and still sporting a full-faced short beard.

He has not yet indicated how he intends to plead on the charges he faces.

Outside court his lawyer, Legal Aid solicitor Ben Archbold, told reporters Akram was doing as well as could be expected.

“Everyone knows that supermax has very onerous conditions, and that’s where people who (allegedly) commit these crimes are,” he said.

The ‘onerous conditions’ at Goulburn’s supermax prison

It is understood Akram is designated as a Category AA inmate – the highest security classification in NSW and as such is subject to a greater level of monitoring and restrictions.

He is also designated as ”Extreme High Risk Restricted” which is reserved for inmates who pose a high risk to the security of a correctional centre or a threat to the community.

These prisoners have strict security protocols and are subject to increased monitoring of their communications and additional restrictions on visits and movements.

Anyone charged or convicted of terrorism offences are automatically deemed to be Category AA.

The Corrections Commissioner must approve any visit requests made to Category AA inmates. It is understood Akram has so far had just one visitor in prison, Muslim chaplain Ahmed Kilani, who spoke to him for 10 to 15 minutes.

All visitors to Supermax and to any other inmate designated as EHRR must undergo a thorough check including a criminal record check.

The majority of visits are no contact and take place with a clear screen between the inmate and visitor.