Australian surfing celebrity Koby Abberton is being held by federal authorities in Honolulu for a violation of his U.S. visa program.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Abberton, 30, late last week on O'ahu. Abberton is being held at the Federal Detention Center for an immigration administrative issue, pending his departure from the U.S.

Abberton, a filmmaker and surfing entrepreneur who gained notoriety as a member of the Bra Boys gang, was sentenced to three days in jail last month for brawling with an off-duty police officer outside a Honolulu restaurant. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge, taking responsibility for actions he previously denied when he pleaded not guilty this summer.

"I'd just like to say, your honor, I'll never be here again. I'll put my word on it," Abberton told Circuit Judge Rey Graulty.

Abberton was taken to O'ahu Community Correctional Center to serve his sentence.

Prosecutors had sought a six-month sentence, but Graulty said he believes it's unlikely Abberton will commit crimes again.

"I think he got off easy. I think he should have been given more jail time based on the facts of the case, but I guess the court thought otherwise," Deputy City Prosecutor Katrina Ordonio said.

The charge stemmed from a fight involving some of Abberton's friends outside Restaurant Epic in Chinatown on March 8.

When the off-duty harbor police officer, Richard Puu, 27, tried to break up the fight, Abberton attacked him, Ordonio said. Abberton punched Puu four times in the head, giving him two black eyes and a half-inch cut on his cheek, she said.

Abberton ran away but was arrested later when he returned to the restaurant wearing a different shirt, she said.

Abberton has had run-ins with the law in the past.

He was given a suspended sentence in Australia two years ago after he was convicted of lying to police about his knowledge of the August 2003 Sydney killing of underworld figure Anthony Hines. His brother, Jai, was acquitted of murder in the killing.