The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed late Thursday that a 39-year-old Sudan-born permanent resident was remanded in custody after allegedly failing to comply with electronic-monitoring requirements attached to his visa. Victoria Police arrested the man in Melbourne on 5 February; he appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 6 February facing one count under s.76D(3) of the Migration Act, which carries penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment or a AU$99,000 fine.
Electronic-monitoring conditions have become more common since December 2024, when Parliament granted Home Affairs expanded powers to impose ankle bracelets on non-citizens considered flight-risks while character or security cases are finalised. According to AFP statistics, 412 visa holders are currently subject to curfews or GPS tracking nationwide.
![Sudan-born man charged in Victoria for breaching electronic-monitoring visa conditions]()
Migration lawyers say the latest prosecution shows authorities are willing to seek jail for non-compliance and warn employers that sponsored staff who are charged risk automatic visa cancellation, exposing companies to Fair-Work penalties if they continue to employ them unlawfully. Corporates are advised to run quarterly VEVO checks and remind affected employees that leaving the registered address for even short periods without permission breaches conditions.
The defendant was refused bail and will next appear on 30 April. Observers expect the case to shape future sentencing benchmarks for electronic-monitoring breaches.
Electronic-monitoring conditions have become more common since December 2024, when Parliament granted Home Affairs expanded powers to impose ankle bracelets on non-citizens considered flight-risks while character or security cases are finalised. According to AFP statistics, 412 visa holders are currently subject to curfews or GPS tracking nationwide.
Migration lawyers say the latest prosecution shows authorities are willing to seek jail for non-compliance and warn employers that sponsored staff who are charged risk automatic visa cancellation, exposing companies to Fair-Work penalties if they continue to employ them unlawfully. Corporates are advised to run quarterly VEVO checks and remind affected employees that leaving the registered address for even short periods without permission breaches conditions.
The defendant was refused bail and will next appear on 30 April. Observers expect the case to shape future sentencing benchmarks for electronic-monitoring breaches.
