A Philippines national, 26, has been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years, for six child sex abuse-related offences.
The man, who lives in Brisbane on a residency visa, was sentenced on Friday (28 February, 2025) in Brisbane Supreme Court after pleading guilty to the charges in January, 2025. Following the expiry of the prison sentence, his visa may be cancelled.
The Queensland Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team, made up of members of the AFP and Queensland Police Service, began an investigation in May, 2023, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers searched the man's belongings when he flew into Brisbane Airport from Manila, Philippines.
The ABF officers alerted QLD JACET after finding child abuse material on his mobile phone. He was subsequently arrested by the AFP.
AFP investigators identified recordings of the man engaging in sexual activity with four children, aged between nine and 15, on social media platforms. This illegal conduct took place across a six-month period in 2022.
The man pleaded guilty to:
- Two counts of persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia, contrary to sections 272.11(1) and 272.9(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.25A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of engaging in sexual activity with a child outside Australia, contrary to section 272.9 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of making child exploitation material, contrary to section 228B(1) of the Criminal Code (Qld); and
- One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the agency worked closely with domestic and international partners to protect children wherever they lived.
"We are committed to combat the global threat of predators who exploit and abuse children for their own abhorrent gratification," Det-Supt Telfer said.
"We encourage parents and carers to have an open conversation about online safety and talk to children about what social media platforms, apps and games they use to help prevent them from falling victim to a predator."
ABF Superintendent Amanda Coppleman said ABF officers played a critical frontline role in identifying travellers who seek to harm children.
"ABF officers work tirelessly to detect and stop individuals who attempt to smuggle child abuse material into the country," Supt Coppleman said.
"This case highlights the vital role our officers play in disrupting the activities of offenders who travel internationally before they can cause harm to children.
"We will continue to work closely with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to ensure those who exploit children are identified and brought to justice."
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.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. 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.
