Prosecutors want 9-year sentence for Quebec man who tried to join ISIS

Federal prosecutors are seeking a nine-year sentence for a Quebec manwho was found guilty in June of attempting to leave Canada to join the terrorist group ISIS.

• Quebec man found guilty of trying to join ISIS

IsmaelHabibis the first adult to be triedon charges of attempting to leave Canada to participate in terrorist activity asection of the Anti-terrorism Act enacted by Stephen Harper's government in 2013.

In sentencing arguments Monday in Montreal,Crown prosecutorLyneDcariesaid Habibshould get one year for trying to obtain a fake passport and eightfor trying to leave the country to participate in terrorist activity.

Habib is facing up to 10 years in prison.Dcarieargued the nine-year sentence was justified by the fact Habibbuys into theideology of the Islamic State and shows no remorse.

But defence lawyer CharlesMontpetitsaid nine years is too long. Montpetitacknowledged that whilehisclient believes in some radical ideas, there's no proof he buys into it completely or that he's a danger to Canadians.

He proposed, instead, a sentence of six years and six months for the charges.

Quebec Court Judge Serge Dlislewill announce his decision Sept. 29.

Arrest followed elaborate RCMPinvestigation

Police arrested Habibin February 2016, following an elaborateRCMPinvestigation that included a so-calledMr. Big operation.

During the trial, it was revealed that Habibtold an undercoverRCMPofficer, who was posing as a crime boss peddling fake passports, that it was his "duty" to fight with ISIS in Syria.

Unbeknownst toHabib, his comments were videotaped.

• Ismael Habib confesses to whipping Syrian prisoner, supporting ISIS in Mr. Big sting

Habibtried to explain awayhis confession during testimony. He told the court he wanted to go overseas to rejoin his wife and children, who had been living abroad without him.

ButDlisle rejected Habib'sversion of the facts, saying he had a history of deception. The judge noted that, at the time,Habibwas looking online for other girlfriends and eventually moved in with another woman inGatineau, Que.