Hersant became the first person in Australia to be charged and convicted for such a gesture.
Far-right 25-year-old Australian Jacob Hersant was sentenced to one month in prison on Friday in Melbourne for the banned Nazi salute. At the same time, however, he was immediately released from custody on bail, reports TASR based on a report by the AFP agency.
Hersant became the first person in the Australian state of Victoria, but also in the whole of Australia, to be accused and convicted of such a gesture. He did it last year, only a few days after the local government banned it. In front of the court, where he just then avoided a prison sentence for causing a violent disturbance in connection with another case, he yelled at cameras and media cameras.
In accordance with the prohibition in question in the Australian state of Victoria, this crime is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to 23,000 Australian dollars (14,190 euros).
Australia banned Nazi salutes and symbols nationwide this year
Judge Brett Sonnet sentenced Hersant to a one-month jail term on Friday, saying the financial fine was unlikely to deter the prominent neo-Nazi from reoffending. The young man appealed against the verdict through his legal representative. He was subsequently released on bail pending the appeal.
Australia banned the Nazi salute as well as Nazi symbols nationwide just this year. Neo-Nazi groups are booming there as secret service officials warn they are attracting more and more Australians.
