Media Release
Australian man imprisoned following conviction over reckless foreign interference
Editor’s Note: Vision of the man’s arrest in 2023 is available via Hightail.
A NSW man has been sentenced to up to three and a half years’ imprisonment for knowingly compiling reports for a foreign intelligence service.
The Australian national, now 58, is the second individual to be convicted of a foreign interference offence.
He was sentenced by the NSW District Court today (10 September, 2026), to a maximum custodial sentence of three years and six months, with a non-parole period of one year and 10 months.
On 13 March, 2026, a jury found the man guilty of reckless foreign interference, contrary to section 92.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) in the NSW District Court.
The man was charged in August, 2023, by the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce (CFITF), which includes members of the AFP and ASIO.
The man is the first individual to be convicted of reckless foreign interference since the Commonwealth Parliament passed the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill in 2018.
He’s the second person to be sentenced over a foreign interference offence after a Melbourne man was sentenced to two years and nine months’ imprisonment in 2024.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Cyber and Special Investigations Sandra Booth said one of the best defences against foreign interference was community awareness and the reporting of suspicious behaviour.
“Foreign interference is an insidious crime, and often foreign powers will use covert, deceptive or coercive activities to influence political processes, harm national security or threaten communities,’’ Assistant Commissioner Booth said.
“Whether these crimes are done overtly or in the shadows, the AFP and its partners will use legislation and capability to identify those responsible.
“We will investigate and charge anyone who aids a foreign power and attempts to corrupt our social cohesion or democracy.
“The AFP encourages all those living in Australia to come forward if they believe they, or others, are being subjected to foreign interference.”
ASIO Director-General, Mike Burgess, paid tribute to the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce’s work on the case.
“This was a painstaking but important investigation,” Mr Burgess said. “Foreign interference is an assault on Australian sovereignty. In this case, the spies wanted the Australian to target individuals in Australia’s intelligence community, Prime Minister’s Office, defence sector, judiciary and think tanks.”
“There have now been two successful prosecutions for foreign interference, and six other individuals have been charged with espionage and foreign interference offences. Prosecutions are important but not the only measure of success, though.
“Since being established in 2020, the Taskforce has conducted literally hundreds of operations to mitigate threats against our diaspora communities, political systems and classified information.”
The AFP has developed a Foreign Interference in the Community factsheet to assist diaspora communities with identifying possible signs of foreign interference. The factsheet is available on the AFP website in more than 40 languages.
Anyone with information about foreign interference or related behaviour is urged to contact the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400. Reports can be made anonymously and are passed to the appropriate intelligence or law enforcement agency for consideration.
