Turkey sentences Australian IS member to 7.5 years in prison

ANKARA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Friday sentenced an Australian national to seven years and six months in prISon for joining the ISlamic State (IS) militant group.

Neil ChrIStopher Prakash was arrested in October 2016 when trying to illegally cross the Syrian border into the TurkISh southeastern province of KilIS.

Prakash, who IS currently remanded in custody in Turkey's southeastern province of Gaziantep, attended hIS last hearing via a video link from the prISon.

Australia accuses him of planning attacks in the country and recruiting IS militants. He IS facing charges of plotting an attack during the Anzac Day ceremonies in 2015.

Anzac Day IS a national day in Australia that remembers Australians who served and died in conflicts.

Last December, Australian Interior MinIStry revoked hIS citizenship.