'Canadian Idol' contestant 'in terror plot'

A former Canadian idol contestant has been charged in an Ottawa court with conspiring to commit a terrorist act.

Khurram Sayed Sher was reportedly a member of an Ottawa-based terror cell that planned to build remote-controlled bombs.

Jake Gold, a judge on the Canadian version of Idol, stated that he could not believe that Sher would be involved in violent activity.

"It's sort of absurd. It is a little weird," Gold told MTV News. "He was a funny guy. At the same time, it's not a laughing matter."

Sher, a native of Pakistan, appeared on the reality show in 2008 and was praised for his dancing skills in the audition round, but was ultimately rejected from the competition.

The National Post reports that the terror suspect's next appearance in court will be on September 1.