An unnamed Western Australian man faced the Kalgoorlie Magistrate’s Court on May 30 after he was found with child abuse material on both his phone and computer.
The 47 year-old was charged by the Joint Western Australian Child Exploitation Team – JACET with four offences after discovering videos of children being sexually abused on his devices.
JACET investigators issued a search warrant of the man’s home earlier in May and found records of online chats that held files of child abuse material. The devices were then contained and subject to further forensic investigation.
Australian Federal Police Sergeant Ross Hinscliff stated that anyone who accessed and viewed files of children being sexually abused was committing a crime. ‘Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators. Our message to online offenders has not changed – if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, we will find you and prosecute you.’
The 47 year old has been charged with:
Two counts of accessing child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
Two counts of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995(Cth);
The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years’ imprisonment.
The Australian Federal Police and its partners say they are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE – Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation is driving a collaborative national approach to stamp out child abuse by bringing together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub to develop prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call the police immediately on 000.
