‘Completely sorry’: Man apologises after alleged Bondi vest scare
A man allegedly wearing a vest covered in duct tape in Bondi, sparking a response from the bomb squad, has broken his silence after being accused of offensive behaviour.
Cleophias Machaya was bailed to live in Victoria after police were called to Oxford Street at Bondi Junction on Sunday night following reports of suspicious behaviour.
Mr. Machaya was allegedly wearing a vest covered with objects and duct tape.
Police allegedly found a second vest while searching his car.
Following examination by the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, it was determined that both vests were safe.
Mr. Machaya has been charged with providing false information to endangered person/property, possession of a prohibited drug, and aggressive behavior in/at/near public places, and his charges are pending before the courts.
Speaking exclusively to 9 News on Tuesday, he described the matter as a “misunderstanding”.
“I am completely sorry,” he told 9News.
“I actually walked around in a weight vest to get some training.”
Mr Machaya said he did not know the vest would raise suspicion.
“The weights were falling off the weight vest, so I wrapped it to keep it all connected,” he said.
The 33-year-old man said he now understood why he was stopped and that the community was on edge, but he believed authorities overreacted.
“A bomb threat is a bomb threat,” he said.
“I don’t think they should keep me in jail for nearly 14 hours just to get a weight vest that they can look at right then and there.
“I grew up in this country and I stand for Australian values.”
