A 35-year-old Melbourne man has been remanded in custody after facing the Melbourne Magistrates' Court overnight (Thursday 28 January, 2021), charged with allegedly breaching a Control Order issued by the Federal Court of Australia.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) High Risk Terrorist Offenders (HRTO) team arrested the man at his residence in the Melbourne suburb of Epping early Thursday morning.
Police will allege the man failed to comply with a condition of the Control Order when he accessed an internet service, other than the permitted internet service authorised by the AFP.
No specific or impending threat to the community has been identified in relation to this matter.
He has been charged with eleven counts of contravening a Federal Court of Australia Control Order, contrary to section 104.27 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
The man was released from prison on 8 May, 2020 and is subject to a Control Order that remains in force until 14 May, 2021.
Following his arrest on Thursday (28 January, 2021), the man has been remanded in custody to reappear in court again on Thursday 22 April, 2021.
He was one of five men charged in 2016 in relation to suspicion of potential offences against the Commonwealth Criminal Code, specifically those concerning incursions into foreign countries to engage in hostile activities.
The HRTO teams across Australia have to date arrested six people accused of breaching a Control Order since July 2020.
AFP Acting Commander Alex Nicolson said high risk terrorist offenders would be charged if they breached their control orders.
"The AFP's High Risk Terrorist Offender teams work tirelessly to ensure court-issued Control Orders are complied with and remain committed to enforcing identified alleged breaches such as this one," he said.
Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you think that information may be.
The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.
