Man charged with harassing Bondi royal commission witness

A NSW man arrested in a raid in which police seized weapons and a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf has been charged with sending offensive emails to a witness to the antisemitism royal commission.

The AFP’s National Security Investigations team began investigating a report last month and allegedly linked the 59-year-old northern NSW man to the “offensive emails”.

On Thursday, they raided a home in Woodburn, about 30 kilometres south-west of Ballina, arresting the man.

They allegedly seized electronic devices and two prohibited weapons, along with right-wing literature, pamphlets and instructions on making explosives.

Photos from the home showed a cat o’ nine tails whip, National Social Network pamphlets and stickers, and a copy of former Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Peter Crozier said online criminal threats had real-life consequences.

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Some of the man’s charges face a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail if found guilty.

“The Royal Commission was established in response to acts of hatred and intolerance directed at members of our community,” Crozier said. 

“Any continued intimidation or incitement of violence against individuals who are providing evidence to this inquiry is wholly intolerable.

“Using violence, threats or intimidation towards a witness in any proceeding, including before a royal commission, undermines important processes.  

“People who believe they can threaten or harass people appearing before royal commissions, or before any sector of the judicial system need to be aware the AFP has the resources and technology to find you and bring you before the courts.”  

The 59-year-old was due to face NSW Bail Division Courts on Thursday on four counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, one count of intimidating a witness and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon in contravention of a weapons prohibition order. 

He was also charged with one count of contravening a requirement under a section 3LA order, which gives police the power to compel a person to reveal their private encryption keys and personal identification numbers or passwords.

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The head of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion last month said Jewish witnesses to the inquiry were facing online harassment and bigotry.

“We have received reports from a number of witnesses concerning a dramatic increase in online hate messages after they have given evidence,”  High Court judge Virginia Bell said.

“Quite what this undiluted level of hatred and bigotry directed towards members of the Jewish community is thought to benefit by those who post these remarks is lost on me.”

It’s not suggested she was referring to this man.

The inquiry was established in response to two gunmen allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group slaying 15 people at a Sydney Hanukkah celebration in December.