Gerard Jean-Michel Bocquee accused of alleged threats to Jewish centre

A 52-year-old man has faced court for the first time over allegations he made a social media threat against a Victorian Jewish community centre.

A 52-year-old man accused of making threats on Twitter against a Victorian Jewish centre has told media outside court he is not anti-Semitic and will fight the charge.

Gerard Jean-Michel Bocquee faced Nanango Magistrates Court for the first time Thursday morning following his arrest by the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Groups on Saturday, December 7 2024 over the social media posts.

Representing himself, Mr Bocquee told the court he would be contesting the charge as he could not “in good conscience” plead guilty.

He was arrested in the Yarraman State Forest that same night, with officers seizing the Holland Park man’s phone.

Mr Bocquee, who police said in a statement following the arrest was from Holland Park, told the court he had been homeless for the past 12 months.

Gerard Jean-Michel Bocquee, 52, faced Nanango Magistrates Court for the first time Thursday morning following his arrest by the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Groups on Saturday, December 7 2024 over the social media posts.

He asked Magistrate Andrew Sinclair whether he should delete the post in question as it “was still actually live” on his Twitter account, to which Mr Sinclair advised he “best speak to a lawyer”.

“I don’t know anything about the charges,” Mr Sinclair said.

Mr Bocquee’s bail was enlarged and his matter was adjourned to Kingaroy Magistrates Court on March 14.

Outside the court following his appearance, Mr Bocquee said he was “not anti-Semitic” and the offending tweet “was taken out of context”.

He said at this stage he was “not sure” whether he would continue to represent himself in court but the matter was “fairly cut and dry”.

“My account shows I’m not anti-Semitic and there’s no material gain for me to have a terrorism act conducted on my behalf, or with my consent.”

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