Millions of people watched Jack Karlson being arrested after a 'succulent' Chinese meal. Thirty years later, the Aussie larrikin has revealed the TRUTH about his run-in with the law - and all was not as it seemed...

One of the most dramatic arrests Australia ever sawThe truth of what really happened finally coming out READ MORE: The incredible untold story of the man behind the viral 'Succulent Chinese Meal' arrest video

More than 32 years after one of the most dramatic arrests Australia has ever seen, the man being taken into custody has revealed that all was not as it seemed.

The legendary ‘succulent Chinese meal’ arrest happened on October 11, 1991 and was filmed by a Channel 7 news crew that had been tipped off about it.

‘Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest,’ small-time crook and part-time actor Jack Karlson boomed out as the cops tried to get him into a police car.

‘Get your hand off my penis,’ he continued, hamming it up for the news cameras as he was surrounded by officers outside a Chinese restaurant in Brisbane.

But almost a third of a century later, Karlson has revealed that nobody actually grabbed his penis that day – he made it up for show.

More than 32 years after one of the most dramatic arrests (pictured) Australia has ever seen, the man being taken into custody has revealed that all was not as it seemed

In an interview with New Zealand comedian and TV personality Guy Williams, Karlson was asked why he claimed his penis was being touched by a police officer.

‘Because I’m being arrested,’ he said. ‘You should be able to say things like that, shouldn’t you?’

In the original video, which has been watched millions of times on YouTube, Karlson shouted at cops in more like a Shakespearean actor than a man being arrested on suspicion of credit card fraud.

‘What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal,’ he said.

‘Ooh, that’s a nice headlock, sir. Ah yes, I see that you know your judo well.’

Karlson looked at the camera claiming the arrest was ‘democracy manifest’.

Speaking nearly 33 years later, Karlson opened up on the experience.

‘That democracy manifest address, I probably was thinking, well, here it is again,’ he said.

‘They’re doing the same thing all over again. The police run in with guns and handcuffs. I thought, well, let’s make a show of all this.’

Karlson was also asked about the long held rumour that part of the reason for his rant as he was being arrested was that he was trying to get booked into an insane asylum.

‘Oh, I said that. Yeah,’ he admitted.

‘You said that to the ABC. Were you talking s***,’ Williams, asked.

‘Yeah. Of course,’ Karlson replied, his deep actor’s voice still in fine fettle.

It turned out the arrest that made him famous was a case of mistaken identity, but the minute-long clip has since become the subject of countless memes and even has its own Wikipedia page.

The story behind it has now been told in a book called Carnage: A Succulent Chinese Meal, Mr Rent-a-Kill and the Australian Manson Murders, by journalist Mark Dapin.

Small-time crook and part-time actor Jack Karlson (pictured) has grown older, but his booming voice is still intact

Karlson is pictured being arrested in Brisbane on October 11, 1991 in front of a TV news crew

Dapin, the author of two previous true-crime studies of armed robbers and escapees, describes Karlson as ‘definitely the most interesting crim I’ve ever met’.

Karlson is a talented painter and actor who starred in a music video for punk rock band The Chats and appeared as an extra in classic Australian television dramas Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police.

He has been locked up in prisons in Brisbane (Boggo Road), Sydney (Parramatta, Long Bay) and Melbourne (Pentridge), and escaped from custody three times.

But he has never lost his desire and ability to create a scene whenever the chance comes along.