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Aussie veterans refused bail for taking out Nazi flag war memorabilia at a Sydney pub

Two Australian military veterans have been refused bail after after allegedly unfurling a collector’s item Nazi flag at a pub in Sydney for a photo.

War memorabilia collector Craig Jason Elston, 51, and his friend Charles Mark Cameron, 44, were arrested on Thursday and charged with publicly displaying a Nazi symbol without reasonable excuse outside the Darlo Bar in Darlinghurst on Thursday, and have been behind bars ever since.

The pair were arrested a short time later after leaving the pub, which is 90 metres up the road from the Sydney Jewish Museum.

The Downing Centre Local Court on Friday heard that Mr Elston was “excited” to show Mr Cameron the flag, which he took out of his backpack while the pair were sitting at an outside table, before giving his phone to Mr Cameron to take photographs.

“He … became excited that he had received it and that it would form part of his private collection,” Legal Aid lawyer Elliot Rowe told the court, Nine News reported.

Mr Rowe told the court that neither man held anti-Semitic views, but Magistrate Greg Grogin refused Mr Cameron’s bail application, saying he could not be satisfied the community would be “safe” with him walking free. Mr Cameron has not entered a plea.

“If he’s willing to do it once, there is an unacceptable risk he may be willing to do it again,” Magistrate Grogin said, despite hearing that Cameron served 20 years in the Australian Defence Force before being medically discharged with PTSD and is being treated for anxiety and depression.

“Displaying such symbols can and does create fear, and potentially promotes it.”

Mr Elston then withdrew his bail application and pleaded guilty, but was remanded in custody until his sentencing on February 21.

The charges came hours after new federal laws mandating minimum one-year jail sentences for displaying Nazi symbols were passed but before they received assent, and they were charged under NSW law where the offence carries a maximum sentence of one year’s imprisonment.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip told ABC News he was thankful to police for arresting the veterans so quickly.

“Something has gone terribly wrong given that these incidents have become an almost daily occurrence. The antisemitism crisis did not start with the firebombing of childcare centres and cars — it started with words and symbols of hate,” Mr Ossip said.

Header image: Left, Craig Jason Elston (Facebook). Right, the Darlo Bar (Google).

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