A TikTok comedian who gave a speech at a lockdown protest in Sydney last year has been found guilty of encouraging the group to commit a crime.
Jon-Bernard Kairouz gained a profile after correctly "predicting" daily COVID-19 cases for a short period during NSW's 2021 lockdown.
The 25-year-old was today found guilty of encouraging criminal behaviour by speaking at the protest in the CBD, telling the crowd it was "time for freedom" and calling himself "the people's premier".
Mr Kairouz pleaded guilty to two charges of not complying with COVID-19 directions at his initial court appearance in June, but denied a third charge of encouraging the commission of a crime.
His lawyer insisted Mr Kairouz was speaking at the protest "as a comedian" and never intended to encourage the 3,500 people in attendance.
But Magistrate Emma Manea today dismissed the defence's argument, insisting Mr Kairouz's actions at the protest in July 2021 showed it was not a joke to him.
"Through his demeanour, acts, conduct, words, and the way those words are delivered, he's encouraging the members of the public who are gathered there," she said.
"It does not — from his conduct and the words he says — come across as a joke."
Footage from the protest shows Mr Kairouz standing above the crowd and speaking to them through a microphone, saying "all we want is freedom".
More than 60 people were arrested at the event after they marched from Broadway to Town Hall and breached the strict public health orders in place at the time.
Mr Kairouz's "predictions" of the state's daily COVID-19 numbers drew the ire of the NSW government and health authorities.
He denied being leaked information from someone inside the government.
Despite being found guilty, Mr Kairouz will not face any fines, jail time, or get a criminal record for his actions.
Magistrate Manea said the 25-year-old had already been sufficiently punished by being "publicly shamed".
According to his lawyer, Mr Kairouz has received several abusive messages online since his arrest, including racist taunts about his Arabic ancestry and people telling him they hoped he would "get COVID and die".
"What you did was in a very public setting, and in my view, you have publicly been shamed enough to satisfy me that a non-conviction is appropriate," Magistrate Manea said.
Under his Conditional Release Order, Mr Kairouz will have to keep a clean record for the next two years to ensure no convictions are recorded.
Outside court, Mr Kairouz said he would appeal the Magistrate's decision.
