Charges have been withdrawn against a man whose duct-taped camouflage vest caused a bomb scare during a vigil for the Bondi mass shooting victims.
Cleophias Machaya, 34, had been charged with offensive behaviour in a public place after police received a triple-zero call in Bondi Junction in Sydney’s east.
The Victorian man had been out walking while wearing a black puffer jacket and weighted camouflage vest with silver gaffer tape around the bottom just after 10pm on January 11.
On that same evening, thousands had gathered with a heavy police presence on nearby Bondi Beach to commemorate the 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration in mid-December.
Officers approached Machaya and searched him for explosives.
‘The vest was X-rayed and cut open to confirm what was inside,’ the police facts said.
‘No explosive material was located.’
Instead, officers found a gold vape, credit card and set of car keys.
Charges have been dropped against Cleophias Machaya (pictured at a previous court appearance last month)
The court heard that Machaya had been wearing the duct-taped camouflage vest (pictured) as an exercise aid while walking
Victorian man Cleophias Machaya (pictured sitting) was charged with offensive behaviour and and providing false information to police. Those charges were withdrawn in court on Thursday
Machaya told police he wore the vest as an exercise aid while walking and he had been training for the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts competition.
Paramedics attended the scene, but cleared the 34-year-old after a mental health assessment.
In his black LDV van, police located a second weighted vest, a GoPro camera, two mobile phones and a tin containing five grams of cannabis leaf.
On Tuesday, the offensive behaviour charge and another charge of providing false information to police were withdrawn.
Machaya was found guilty of possessing a prohibited drug but was not convicted.
During a bail hearing in January, the Victorian man sobbed and shook his head.
‘I just made a mistake,’ he said.
