A 37-year-old Sydney man is scheduled to appear before Blacktown Local Court today (2 October 2019) to face multiple charges of child sexual exploitation and possession of child abuse material, while a child has been removed from a harmful situation.
The man has become the first person charged by the NSW Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NSW-JACET) since the new Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 came into effect on 21 September 2019.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) received a referral from the United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) regarding the alleged purchase of child abuse material online by two Australians residing in NSW.
The NSW-JACET began an investigation to identify the recipient of the alleged child abuse material.
Yesterday (1 October 2019), NSW-JACET investigators, with the assistance of HSI, executed a search warrant at the residence in Marayong, NSW, where a number of electronic devices were seized. It will be alleged in court that police found material the man had produced with a child who is known to him. The child is currently in the care of family.
A 37-year-old Sydney man was subsequently arrested and charged with:
- Five counts of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed via a carriage service contrary to section 474.22a of the Criminal Code (Cth).
- Two counts of producing child abuse material, contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
- Four counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(I) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalties for these offences are 10 years (NSW offences) and 15 years (Cth offences).
He is the second NSW man arrested in relation to the referral from HSI.
AFP Detective Sergeant Jarryd Dunbar of the NSW-JACET said the key objective for Australian law enforcement is to keep our communities and children safe from harm, especially in instances where a child has allegedly been abused by a trusted adult.
The AFP will continue to work collaboratively with our partners here and overseas to target the producers and distributors of child abuse material, who are contributing to an abhorrent industry harming the most vulnerable in our communities.
'Some of the material seized today is among the worst we have seen in investigating this crime type. The efforts of everyone today have also helped us remove a child from harm, whose ongoing welfare will remain a high priority,' D/Sgt. Dunbar said.
Members of the community who have information about persons involved in child abuse material are urged to report their suspicions through the 'Report Child Abuse' link of the AFP website, via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the social media provider (such as Twitter, Facebook etc).
