A Camperdown man has been jailed after being convicted of spray-painting swastikas on a Sydney synagogue and assisting in a string of anti-Semitic crimes across the city’s east.
Leon Emmanuel Sofilas, 37, appeared via video link from custody at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, September 15, where Magistrate Scott Nash sentenced him to one year and eight months’ imprisonment, backdated to January, with a non-parole period of eight months.
Sofilas was convicted of destroying property by fire worth more than $2000 in company, knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public, three counts of being an accessory to property damage, and possessing an unregistered firearm.
Court documents revealed Sofilas rode a bike to Newtown Synagogue about 4.30am on January 11, where he spray-painted 10 swastikas on the site.
Just hours earlier, he had unknowingly assisted other offenders by loading paint-filled fire extinguishers and equipment into vehicles later used in anti-Semitic attacks.
These included cars being torched, property damaged, and graffiti sprayed across suburbs including Queens Park, Dover Heights and Maroubra.
He was arrested at a Darling Harbour hotel on January 23 by Strike Force Pearl detectives, who investigate Sydney hate crimes with an anti-Semitic focus.
Magistrate Nash described the synagogue graffiti as “vile,” noting Sofilas had acted under direction and was vulnerable due to heroin addiction. “He gave evidence at the hearing that his behaviour was disgusting,” Nash said.
Sofilas had already spent nine months in custody. His co-accused Adam Moule, 34, has pleaded guilty to related fire and criminal group offences, while others face separate charges.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
