Man charged after allegedly performing Nazi salute in Sydney

A man has been charged after allegedly performing a Nazi salute days after a synagogue was graffitied with swastikas.

A man charged after allegedly performing a Nazi salute at a busy Sydney shopping centre has claimed in court he “didn’t understand it was an offence”.

David Ancans, 54, appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on Monday charged with performing the Nazi symbol in public on Monday.

Police were called to the intersection of Darling and Beattie streets in Balmain shortly before 9am after reports a man was performing an offensive gesture.

When officers arrived, they allege the 54-year-old man was performing a Nazi salute.

Mr Arcans’ lawyer said his client was a mental health patient who received regular medication.

“He has indicated he didn’t understand (doing the Nazi salute) was an offence,” the lawyer said.

“I don’t understand this offence,” Mr Arcans agreed while addressing Magistrate Ian Guy.

A man has been charged after allegedly performing a Nazi salute in Balmain, Sydney.

The court was told Mr Ancans’ suffered from bipolar disorder and schitzoaffective disorder.

The police prosecutor opposed the bail application, noting Mr Arcans had been subject to a conditional release order at the time of the alleged offence.

She argued he had “very little ties to the community” and he posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending if released on bail.

“He has a history of non-compliance with orders of the court,” the prosecutor said.

In granting bail, Magistrate Guy said he had no doubt Mr Ancans was “labouring under a … significant mental illness.”

Mr Ancans was arrested and charged by police earlier on Monday with knowingly displaying by public act a Nazi symbol without excuse.

He was also charged with making a gesture in a public place being a Nazi salute, hindering or resisting police, and behaving in an offensive manner in public.

In recent separate incidents, a synagogue in Newtown in Sydney’s inner west was painted with red swastikas last week while another man was also charged with displaying a Nazi symbol on Sunday after a chemist in Newcastle was allegedly graffitied.

Originally published as Man charged after allegedly performing Nazi salute in Sydney