A far-right Australian man was freed on bail Friday after a Melbourne court sentenced him to one month in jail for performing an illegal Nazi salute.
Jacob Hersant, 25, is the first person in the state of Victoria to be charged with performing the gesture, days after it was outlawed in 2023.
He was convicted of saluting journalists and media cameras outside a court where he was facing an unrelated charge on October 27, 2023.
The offense now carries a 12-month prison sentence in Victoria and a fine of up to AUD $23,000 (USD $15,307).
On Friday, magistrate Brett Sonnet sentenced Hersant to one month behind bars and said a fine was unlikely to deter the prominent neo-Nazi from re-offending, the ABC reported.
But his lawyer sought to overturn the decision and, hours later, Hersant was freed on bail while the appeal takes place, the ABC reported.
Australia banned the Nazi salute this year along with displays or trade of Nazi symbols.
Intelligence officials have warned that growing numbers of Australians are being drawn towards neo-Nazi ideologies, as extremist groups step up efforts to recruit new members.
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