A Melbourne pizza shop worker has been committed to stand trial on charges of providing thousands of dollars overseas to a suspected member of a terrorist group.
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On Tuesday, Hassan El Sabsabi, 24, of Seabrook, pleaded not guilty to seven charges of making funds available to terror groups. He also pleaded not guilty to 11 charges under the Foreign Incursions and Recruitment Act, which prohibits providing money to terror groups and travelling overseas to fight.
The charges he faces each carry a maximum penalty of 25 years' jail.
Federal police allege that between June 2013 and September 2014 Mr El Sabsabi sent about $16,000 to the terrorist organisations Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and Jabhat al-Nusra, via money transfer organisations.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court has been told police also allege Mr El Sabsabi was also in regular contact with a suspected member of Jabhat al-Nusra through conversations on Skype and messages on Facebook.
Mr El Sabsabi was arrested on September 30, 2014, during a raid on his family home. Police had been monitoring his movements and telephone calls for seven months, following a tip-off.
Magistrate Suzanne Cameron said on Tuesday she was satisfied the evidence she had heard on Monday was of sufficient weight to support a conviction. She committed Mr El Sabsabi to stand trial.
Mr El Sabsabi, who works in his family's pizza shop, had his bail extended to attend the Supreme Court on Wednesday for a directions hearing.
