Tony Zoef charged with weapons offences, drug manufacturing

A Sydney man who wants to live on Mars and was once convicted of hoarding a shocking cache of military weapons at his suburban home has been charged with holding digital blueprints for manufacturing firearms.

A Sydney space enthusiast who was once jailed for weapons offences has pleaded guilty to possessing blueprints for manufacturing firearms. Picture: Mars One

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A Sydney man who wants to live on Mars and was once convicted of hoarding a shocking cache of military weapons at his suburban home has been charged with holding digital blueprints for manufacturing firearms.

Sylvania space enthusiast Tony Zoef, 48, pleaded guilty at Sutherland Court on Thursday to three counts of possessing drug manufacturing apparatuses, possessing instructions to manufacture illegal drugs, possessing digital blue prints for manufacturing firearms and conspiracy to commit an offence.

The present charges and previous conviction have no connection to Mr Tony Zoef Snr, a tailor from the Sutherland area.

Zoef refused legal assistance when he appeared at Sutherland Court.

Zoef was calm in the dock after refusing legal advice and saying he was “happy” with how the proceedings were going.

He did not apply for bail and will return to Sutherland Court via audiovisual link on December 20.

Zoef was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with a three-year non-parole period on August 20, 2013 after he was originally charged with 21 weapons offences.

Then Organised Crime director Detective Superintendent Ken Finch said Zoef’s haul included guns, grenades, an Israeli landmine, a pipe bomb, gas masks, body armour and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Zoef described himself as a hydroponics expert in his Mars application video.

“Those parts were brought in via the post and facilitated by the internet,” Det Supt Finch said.

“Parts were for military-grade weaponry so a great deal of damage could have been caused.”

Zoef was convicted of possessing a shortened firearm without authority, possessing prohibited weapons without permits, possessing ammunition without a licence, not keeping a firearm safely and possessing more than three unregistered firearms.

Zoef described himself in a bizarre video on the Mars One Community Space website as an expert in “horticulture” and “hydroponics”.

Zoef wore a series of bizarre outfits in his Mars application video.

The Mars One website is an “online network for everyone who wishes to become involved in (their) human mission to Mars”.

“I believe it would be a great opportunity to be part of an international team of space cadets … as an ambassador for Earth,” Zoef told the camera.

“Apart from being incredibly good-looking, let’s explore what makes me the perfect candidate.”

Zoef then tells the camera he is skilled in horticulture, engineering and welding.

“I have first-hand experience of living and working in confined spaces,” Zoef continued.

“I look forward to seeing you on the red planet.”

In the video Zoef dresses as a Star Trek crew member, a Spartan wielding a sword, a welder and in jungle survival gear while holding a helium balloon alien.