In Australia, man avoids prison after threatening prime minister and treasurer
In Southport, Australia, 57-year-old Scott Evans pleaded guilty to threatening to harm Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers. The Southport Magistrates Court sentenced him to six months in prison but released him on the condition that he comply with an 18-month good behaviour order, ABC News Australia reports.
Three voice messages
Officers from the Australian Federal Police's national security and intelligence unit launched an investigation after threatening voice messages were received on the voicemail of Chalmers' electorate office on June 23.
Law enforcement officers determined that the messages were left by Evans, who lives in Coomera in the northern part of the Gold Coast. On July 16, federal police searched his home and found evidence of the threats on his mobile phone.
Evans was charged with threatening to cause harm to a public official. The maximum penalty for this charge is two years' imprisonment.
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Case hearing
Prosecutor Tian Begenna told the court that Evans left three “aggressive” messages within six minutes. According to the prosecution, he threatened to beat Albanese and Chalmers and said that the politicians would not be able to walk if he met them.
The prosecution argued for a custodial sentence. Defence lawyer Corey Cook said his client had been receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and that a psychologist appointment scheduled for June 23 had been cancelled. The lawyer described Evans' actions as impulsive.
Magistrate Pamela Dowse took into account Evans' early guilty plea, remorse, shame and embarrassment over his actions. At the same time, she disagreed that the threats were merely an impulsive act or that the lack of intent to carry them out was relevant, as the recipients could not know his true intentions. The court recorded a conviction against Evans.
