Junming Zhou sentenced for using fake gun in ‘military training exercise’ in Bundeena

A Chinese national’s bridging visa was cancelled after he was sentenced for dressing in army gear and fired fake guns in the Royal National Park to practice his “military exercises” so he could fight in the Ukraine-Russia war.

A Chinese national will be deported when released from prison after he was sentenced for firing fake guns dressed in army gear in what he claimed were “military training exercises” to fight for Ukraine in the war.

Junming Zhou, 32, was sentenced to 12 months in prison in Sutherland Local Court after he pleaded guilty to multiple firearms and resisting police charges.

A non-parole period of five months and three weeks was set, which was backdated to his date of arrest in October, meaning he will be released on April 8.

A Department of Home Affairs letter indicated Zhou, who completed a university research thesis in Australia last year, would be taken to a detention centre and deported upon his release after his bridging visa was cancelled.

Junming Zhou pleaded guilty to using a gel blaster guns in Bundeena in the Royal National Park. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Agreed facts tendered to court said Zhou, who lives in Kensington, went to Bundeena to conduct “military exercises” on August 14 last year where he fired a military-style gel blaster rifle.

A woman was running past and saw Zhou holding the gun, wearing camouflage army fatigues and said, “you aren’t going to shoot me are you?” to which Zhou replied, “it’s a drill”.

Police officers found Zhou holding the replica rifle and he said he was training to join the “Ukraine international allegiance” to fight against Russia.

Police searched Zhou’s home and seized a second gel blaster rifle.

Zhou pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an unregistered prohibited firearm, possessing a loaded firearm in a public place, not keeping a firearm safely and possessing ammunition without a licence.

Junming Zhou was released on bail following his arrest in August. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Following his release on bail, police attended his home for a compliance check on October 17.

When officers tried to search and restrain Zhou, he ran head first into a wall and struck his head against it repeatedly before he resisted handcuffs and attacked officers.

“There will be bodies in your police station, I will remember you, I will kill you,” Zhou said. “I have the thirst for blood … I will kill myself in front of your police station … I will have my blood on your uniform”.

He pleaded guilty to three charges of resisting, intimidating and assaulting police officers.

In court, Magistrate Phillip Stewart noted mental health reports stated Zhou had undertaken counselling for PTSD, depression and anxiety caused by his traumatic service in the China’s People's Liberation Army.

The Department of Home Affairs was contacted for comment.