An Australian citizen who resides in Cambodia is expected to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today (7 August, 2026) charged with accessing child abuse material.
The AFP charged the man, 67, on 19 June, 2026, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted him at Perth Airport following his arrival on an international flight.
ABF officers inspected the man's mobile phones as part of a baggage examination and identified websites that had allegedly been accessed which contained child abuse material. The matter was immediately referred to the AFP for investigation.
The man was subsequently charged with two counts of accessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
He appeared in Northbridge Magistrates Court on 20 June, 2026, where he was refused bail. He then appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on 22 June, 2026, where he was granted bail to appear in court again today.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Josh Gilmour said the AFP and its partners remained committed to protecting children from online predators.
"Children are some of the most vulnerable members of the community and deserve to feel safe," Det a/Insp Gilmour said.
"Investigators are fiercely driven to identify anyone who accesses any form of child abuse material and place them before the court."
ABF Inspector Tim Sutton said the agency remained committed to using intelligence-led targeting and highly trained officers to target travellers at the border perpetuating the abuse of children.
"Child abuse material is not abstract or victimless. It exists because real children have been abused, and its circulation continues that harm," Insp Sutton said.
"Anyone who attempts to harm children at home or overseas will remain a priority target with our border detection efforts and collaboration with law enforcement partners."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
