News Service from House Harris

NSW: Man who bought rocket launchers says police reneged on deal

SYDNEY, Nov 28 AAP - A man who admitted buying stolen military rocket launchers says the NSW Crime Commission tricked him into providing them with "crucial information".

Taha Abdul-Rahman, 30, has told Sydney's Downing Centre District Court that the commission "promised" he would avoid charges for his actions in exchange for information about the crime.

The father of two, from Leumeah in south-west Sydney, has pleaded guilty to buying prohibited weapons without authority and receiving stolen defence force goods.

He bought seven rocket launchers on two different occasions from an associate of former army captain Shane Della-Vedova.

In May this year, Della-Vedova was jailed for a maximum of 10 years after pleading guilty to stealing and selling the rocket launchers between 2001 and 2003.

The court was told on Friday that Abdul-Rahman was the "middle man", selling the rocket launchers on to a man with terrorist links.

One ended up in the hands of notorious Sydney criminal Adnan Darwiche, but the rest remain missing.

In 2006, Abdul-Rahman was questioned by crime commission officers, who he claims told him he would walk free in exchange for information about the weapon sales.

"They kept asking me questions ... and if I did (answer) they guaranteed me that I wouldn't be arrested," Abdul-Rahman said at his sentencing hearing on Friday.

"They told me that they would re-locate my family to New Zealand or where I wanted ... because they wanted me to give them information, crucial information they were saying."

He said police officers also told his wife they would receive a reward for his cooperation.

But in documents tendered to the court, the prosecution said Abdul-Rahman declined an offer to cooperate with police investigations.

Abdul-Rahman's pregnant wife, their two young children, his mother and some siblings were present in court.

The tiler apologised to the court, saying he didn't realise the seriousness of his actions.

"What I've done was stupid ... I didn't realise how serious it was until I got arrested," he said.

"I'm just sorry (for) what happened. I wish it never happened. It felt like a dream when it happened. I'll never do anything like that again."

Abdul-Rahman's barrister William Brewer asked Justice Mark Marien to take into account his client's lack of education, unstable childhood and early guilty plea when handing down his sentence.

He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for purchasing the rocket launchers and five years for receiving the weapons.

Abdul-Rahman will be sentenced in the same court by Justice Marien on December 10.