Media Release
Eritrea-born man charged with visa breaches in Victoria
An Eritrea-born man has appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates Court today (22 October, 2025), charged with breaching his visa-mandated conditions.
The AFP charged the man, 38, after he was located in Melbourne yesterday (21 October, 2025).
It will be alleged the man breached the conditions of his Commonwealth visa between 9 and 18 October, 2025, by failing to maintain his electronic monitoring device as required, as well as failing to abide by a curfew on 15 October, 2025.
At the time of his arrest, the man was also allegedly found to be in possession of a zip lock bag containing a small quantity of a crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine.
The man was charged with:
- Six counts of fail to comply with visa curfew conditions, contrary to section 76C of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or a $99,000 fine;
- One count of fail to maintain electronic monitoring device, contrary to section 76D of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or a $99,000 fine; and
- One count of possess drug of dependence, contrary to section 73 of Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act (Vic). This offence carries a maximum penalty of one years’ imprisonment and/or a $9,900 fine.
The man did not apply for bail and was remanded to reappear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 13 January, 2026.
