The offence of hindering or obstructing a Commonwealth public official

A witness in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial has pleaded guilty to the offence of hindering or obstructing a commonwealth public official.

While magistrate Miranda Moody found he acted "like a drunken fool", she ultimately chose not to record a conviction against him.

The witness cannot be named for legal reasons.

What is Hindering or Obstructing a Commonwealth Public Official?

Hindering or obstructing a commonwealth public official is an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment.

Sections 149.1 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code states:

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) The person knows that another person is a public official; and