A man of no fixed address has been charged with allegedly sending threatening and harassing emails to a Federal Member of Parliament.
The man, 39, was arrested by the AFP at Brisbane International Airport on Tuesday (11 July) and appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday (12 July), where he was remanded in custody to reappear on Friday (14 July).
AFP Commander Naomi Binstead said the AFP took all reports regarding the safety and security of Australian high office holders seriously and assessed each matter against information provided.
She said:
“The AFP supports political expression and freedom of speech, but when it leads to criminal behaviour – including threats and harassment – it will not be tolerated.”
The man has been charged with:
- One count of using a carriage service to make a threat to a person to kill that person, contrary to subsection 474.15(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to make to a person a threat to kill another person contrary to subsection 474.15(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- Five counts of using a carriage service to harass, threaten, or menace, contrary to subsection 474.17(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for these offences is 10 years’ imprisonment and five years’ imprisonment, respectively.