Another self-proclaimed sovereign citizen accused of jointly causing the Old Parliament House fire last December has been released on bail with the Chief Magistrate saying it was difficult to assess the prosecution case because the defendant's role was "not entirely clear".
Rayne Orion Crowe, 22, appeared via audio-visual link in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday charged with jointly commissioning arson on a building and resisting a territory public official.
Crowe, who is listed as having no fixed abode, has not pleaded to the charges.
A prosecution document states that Crowe was captured on video in which he and others were allegedly involved in setting or helping set fire to the building's front door amid a political protest on December 30.
As the fire spread, protesters - including Crowe - allegedly began to move in numbers into the portico area.
They signalled to one another and began to stand side by side and link arms, forming an outward facing cordon around the building's main entrance.
"On a number of occasions, he turns and stares at the front door area of the portico ... where black smoke is emanating," the prosecution document states.
"Crowe is standing in front of the fire, walking a short distance away before turning and staring at the fire."
Police arrested Crowe only after speaking to him about an unrelated matter on Sunday.
Court documents state that an agreed ceremonial fire was lit near the front door area of the building earlier on December 30.
The damaging fire came after police agreed to allow demonstrators to protest, involving corroborees and smoking ceremonies, in the front car park for one hour per day.
That agreement was in response to a small fire in the portico area on December 21.
In court, prosecutor Hannah Lee opposed Crowe's bail application, saying he held sovereign-citizen style beliefs, which meant he may likely not comply with court orders.
Crowe spoke briefly and said his plan in the next month was to save some money from work then head to the NT with his dog.
Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker granted bail for Crowe, but told him his plan could not be part of it as a condition was not to leave the ACT.
Ms Walker said it was difficult to assess the prosecution case because the defendant's role in the fire was "not entirely clear to me" based on the evidence, but "it does appear to be linked to that activity".
She said Crowe was only seen being present during the fire and allegedly tried to stop authorities from extinguishing it.
The Chief Magistrate said that while it was accepted that Crowe considered himself a sovereign citizen and not subject to ACT laws, bail conditions could address concerns.
The court heard Crowe, who travelled from NSW to attend the protest, had a number of ties with the ACT, including his grandfather, his employment as an assistant manager at a Fyshwick warehouse and an asbestos-related course he was set to undertake.
His other bail conditions include reporting to ACT Policing every day and must reside in Griffith in the ACT.
He also must not contact his co-defendants, who are charged with similar offences.
The Chief Magistrate told him "it might be a good idea to block them" if they tried to reach him.
Crowe is scheduled to front court again on May 2.
