A Sydney court today sentenced Vishal Jood to a prison term for his role in a series of violent assaults in Sydney’s west.
Vishal Jood, arrested in April for the acts of violence, was today sentenced to twelve months in prison by a Parramatta Local Court in Sydney. The sentence carries a six-month non-parole period. The judge, in his determination, took into account Jood’s character, his clean prior record and his health. Jood appeared via a video link in a blue t-shirt and did not speak a word at the sentencing hearing.
Jood, having already served 4 months and 17 days of his sentence, will become eligible for parole on 15 October.
Jood pleaded guilty to three of the charges, including ‘assault’, ‘occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others’ and ‘armed with intention to commit indictable offence’, while the other charges were dropped by the Crown.
Jood’s lawyer, in his defence, told the court that Jood comes from a farmers’ family from a place where Hindus and Sikhs co-exist ‘in peace’. He argued that Jood’s action was spontaneous, out of fear and there was no evidence that it was motivated because of the victim’s Sikh faith. He also mentioned Jood’s personal circumstances, his good character and his health. He added that Jood was a “kind and helpful person otherwise”.
The magistrate noted that Jood is “still relatively young and a well respected member in the community” and his “prospects of rehabilitation are very good”. Regardless, he added that it was one of the burdens of living in the society to not to succumb to provocation. He said that the urge to pick up an object and strike someone, especially when they are down on the ground, must be resisted. Such behaviour cannot be condoned, the magistrate added.
Jood had been arrested on 16 April and charged with three counts of affray, three counts of armed with intent to commit indictable offence, two counts of destroying or damaging property, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of other(s).
Jood had last appeared before the court on August 12 via video conference when the court had set a new hearing date of 27 January 2022 for 10 out of 12 charges, and of 31 January 2022 for the rest of the charges.
The issue has made news headlines in India where it has been alleged Vishal Jood was acting to protect the Indian flag from being dishonoured by ‘Khalistanis’. The Haryana Chief Minister had intervened in the matter and written to India’s Foreign Minister to get Vishal released. In a tweet, CM’s office wrote, “CM @mlkhattar spoke to External Affairs Minister, Shri @DrSJaishankar for immediate release of Vishal Jude, a Haryanvi youth lodged in Australia’s jail & appealed for immediate intervention in the matter. The Foreign Minister has conveyed India’s concern to the Australian Embassy”.
A group of Jood’s Harvanvi community members in India, with the support from political leaders, had carried out a campaign demanding Jood’s release.
At the time of his arrest, Jood was reported to have been living in Australia under an expired visa.
Supporters had cited Jood’s nationalism and his defence of the Indian flag as the reason for his arrest and asked for consular support from the Indian Government to assist Jood with his court case.
Among the political leaders who tweeted in support of Jood were Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kapil Mishra, Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga, BJP’s spokesperson from Delhi and Dr Subhash Sharma, BJP General Secretary, Punjab.
Olympian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, who is also from Haryana, was also among the public figures who tweeted in support of Jood, as was Neeraj Chopra who later went on to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Please stop referring Jood as ‘Tiranga Warrior’.
There was no one disrespecting tiranga on the day of incident. Protestors were calling anti Modi slogans and not anti indian. He, being a Modi supporter, took it as anti India and raised flag to show his fake nationalism.
We take offence if such a criminal is called – Tiranga Warrior.
Please correct your post.
Liar.. they were raising anti-India slogans.
Buddy – don’t get confused by mixing up issues and timeline. Jood is sentenced for crimes he did on 16th Sept 2020, and then on Feb 14th and Feb 28th.. He already admitted his crimes and got sentenced. So justice served. Since he pleaded guilty.. his sentence was somewhat light. so Good for him. Now this has absolutely nothing to do with anything that happened in April (rallies, slogan, something to do with flag). I really doubt if anybody raised anti-India slogans, it is very unlikely but even if it happened, it is completely different matter and nothing to do with Vishal case.. I am pretty sure though that anti-modi slogans would be raised.. and that is not a crime
I have been through these most stupid courts and judiciary. Unlike India these so called democratic courts are rigged. You are forced to accept a plea in fear. Then they play with the judgement. Mess your life up. Usa Australia all the same third rated
what will happen in october, will australia deport him? he is indian citizen and convicted criminal in australia now.
Oct is just parole.. I am assuming he will still have to serve full 1 year of sentence.. then sent to detention center due to illegal visa and finally deportation to India.. Lucky for him . he got away with light sentence by admitting his mistake and pleading guilty, Hope vishal really realize his mistake and not just taking advantage of lenient legal system.. which is designed in good faith to allow opportunity for people to correct their mistakes
Sad that he is being treated like a hero in India. He will not learn and will probably become a BJP somebody and continue to treat minorities as dirt.
What is your problem. When a mullah can be madcap why can’t jood remove the mad in the cap