A 29-year-old Brisbane man has been charged by the Queensland Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (QLD JACET) following an investigation into the alleged access and possession of child abuse material.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) QLD JACET investigators began inquiries into the man's online activities after the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a referral from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Earlier today (29 May 2020), members of the QLD JACET executed a search warrant at a home in the Brisbane suburb of Highgate Hill.
During a search of the home, investigators seized a mobile phone which allegedly contained child abuse material.
The man has been charged with three offences, including:
- One count of using a carriage service to access child pornography material contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
- One count of knowingly possessing child exploitation material, contrary to section 228D of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld).
He is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 19 August to answer these charges.
The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years imprisonment for the Commonwealth charges and 14 years imprisonment for the Queensland charges.
AFP Detective Superintendent Child Protection Operations, Paula Hudson said the AFP is committed to reducing the impact and incidences of people offending against children.
"The AFP, through the ACCCE, works with international partners like NCMEC to halt the spread of child abuse material," she said.
"Every time someone shares an image or video of child abuse they are committing a crime and contributing to the ongoing abuse of a child victim
"The ACCCE will continue to provide critical support to JACETs and non-government organisations to combat online child exploitation and we will not stop."
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in the possession or sharing of child exploitation material are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report.
