Sydney synagogue firebombing accused branded ‘Nazi’ in prison, fears for safety

Two Sydney men charged with allegedly attempting to torch a Sydney synagogue have attempted to be released on bail with one of the men claiming to be ‘traumatised and scared’ in prison.

Leon Sofilas, accused of vandalising the Newtown Synagogue with swastikas and unsuccessfully setting it on fire on January 11. Picture: Facebook

Two Sydney men charged with allegedly attempting to torch a Sydney synagogue say they fear for their safety in prison, with a magistrate slamming their alleged actions as “abhorrent”.

Adam Edward Moule, 33, and Leon Emmanuel Sofilas, 37, the two men accused of vandalising the Newtown Synagogue and allegedly unsuccessfully setting it on fire on January 11, appeared before a magistrate at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday afternoon in an application for bail.

The court heard Mr Sofilas, who pleaded not guilty on Thursday, had been given the nickname “Nazi” while in prison. His legal representative said that he had been assaulted while in custody, and during his arrest was tasered by police 11 times.

The court heard that the pair also have “lengthy” criminal records, with both men conceding they had breached bail before, and Mr Moule described as also having a history of violence, breaching AVOs and court orders.

Aboriginal Legal Service representative Jenni Bridges said Mr Moule, who at the time of his arrest was living in a housing commission apartment in Pyrmont, said her client was a “vulnerable Indigenous man” who had been the subject of “harassment and threats” by other inmates while in custody.

Ms Bridges said her client was in protective custody due to the nature of his charges and was only allowed 30 minutes of “outside time” each day, and was suffering from anxiety, depression and PTSD.

Mr Sofilas during his arrest. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Moule during his arrest. Picture: NSW Police

Steve Mav, representing Mr Sofilas, said his client also suffered from anxiety, PTSD, depression, public anxiety and epilepsy when citing reasons for his release.

CCTV released by police.

“To say he is traumatised is an understatement, he is scared, he is fearful, and he is not in a safe place right now in custody,” Mr Mav said.

“I am seriously concerned for his physical and mental welfare. Stringent (bail) conditions can be made … he is too traumatised as to what’s happened in jail.

“In the interests of justice we make this release application today recognising that he does have a bad criminal history, that is conceded,” he said.

Critical to the arrest of the duo was CCTV from the scene which captured two hooded men, dressed in black, spray painting Nazi symbols on the synagogue’s fence on January 11.

NSW Police prosecutor Peter Boctor, when arguing against Mr Moule’s application for release, said there was a “strong” prosecution case and they had been identified by police due to clothing they wore at the time of the offending and clothing they had worn during other interactions with police.

“(The defendants) have been tracked coming and going to the crime scene from their residential premises on CCTV … they’ve been captured committing the offences on CCTV,” Mr Boctor said.

Mr Sofilas has been charged with destroy/damage property in company, destroy property in company use fire, and knowingly display by public act Nazi symbol without excuse, while Mr Moule has been charged with destroy property in company, use fire and destroy/damage property in company.

In denying bail magistrate Greg Grogin said they were an unacceptable risk to the community.

The pair will return to court on April 3.