White supremacist leader Jack van Tongeren was denied bail by a magistrate in Perth this afternoon.
The leader of the Australian Nationalist Movement had applied to be freed from prison, after being arrested and detained last week on four charges of plotting to firebomb Chinese restaurants across Perth.
Van Tongeren is also facing 19 charges of criminal damage, relating to graffiti attacks on properties across the city.
Magistrate Pamela Hogan told Perth Magistrate’s Court today that she was not satisfied that van Tongeren would not commit further offences if he was released from prison.
The latest charges against van Tongeren came after he was arrested last Friday afternoon following a two-week statewide manhunt.
Police had refocused attention on the Australian Nationalist Movement (ANM) leader after racist graffiti appeared across Perth, along with stickers and posters promoting the ANM.
Three men, all with affiliations to the ANM, have admitted their part in the graffiti, claiming they had been influenced by van Tongeren in writing it.
During yesterday’s bail application, the court was told van Tongeren had a wide network of contacts around Australia who would provide him with refuge, and would pose a serious flight risk if released on bail.
But his lawyer Michael Bowden said the case against van Tongeren was unreliable and he was innocent until proven guilty.
He also said he was prepared to submit to strict bail conditions, including a curfew and daily reporting to police, and had been in the process of surrendering to police when arrested.
Van Tongeren will now be remanded in custody until his next court appearance, via video link, on August 23.