Minister’s Family Threatened with Brutal Death: Vile Online Stalker, 31, is Charged and Let Loose on Bail Despite Fears for Politician’s Safety
- Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells and her family have been targeted by a man who allegedly sent sickening death threats online.
- Steven Ly, 31, from Bankstown, has been charged over the twisted emails that sparked a massive police investigation.
- The alleged stalker was granted bail despite facing up to 10 years in jail if convicted – leaving the Minister and her loved ones living in fear.
A sinister online stalker has been charged with making vile threats to kill Communications Minister Anika Wells and her family, sparking a frantic police investigation that ended with his arrest.
Steven Ly, a 31-year-old from Bankstown, was taken into custody at his home on Friday after the Australian Federal Police’s National Security Investigations team linked him to two twisted emails sent to the Minister’s office.
According to authorities, the emails contained explicit threats to kill Minister Wells and her loved ones, leaving the politician and her family shaken to the core.
In a shocking twist, Ly was granted bail despite facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail if convicted – a decision that has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns for the Minister’s safety.
Under the bail conditions, Ly has been ordered to report daily to Bankstown Police Station, surrender his passport, and stay away from Minister Wells and her family.
But the Minister’s ordeal is far from over, with the alleged stalker set to return to court on December 23 – just days before Christmas.
The emails that sparked the investigation were sent a week before Minister Wells became embroiled in a public scandal over her travel expenses, which included a staggering $116,000 bill for a trip to Paris and $95,000 for a jaunt to New York.
Despite the turmoil, Minister Wells has shown remarkable courage and resilience, referring herself to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority earlier this week in a bid to clear her name.
As the Minister and her family await the outcome of the case, they remain on high alert – knowing that the alleged stalker is still on the loose, despite the best efforts of the police to keep them safe.