That night, a large crowd gathered with a significant police presence at Bondi Beach to honor the memory of 15 individuals who lost their lives when two attackers opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration in mid-December.

Authorities approached Machaya and conducted a search for any explosives.

“The vest underwent an X-ray and was subsequently cut open to verify its contents,” the police report stated.

“No explosive substances were discovered.”

Instead, what the officers uncovered included a gold vape, a credit card, and a set of car keys.

In Machaya’s black LDV van, police also discovered another weighted vest, a GoPro camera, two mobile phones, and a tin containing five grams of cannabis leaf.

On Tuesday, the offensive behaviour charge and another charge of providing false information to police were withdrawn.

Machaya was found guilty of possessing a prohibited drug but was not convicted.

“I just made a mistake,” he said.

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