An Australian man and two women based in the Philippines have been charged with child abuse offences after an international investigation involving the AFP, Philippine National Police, and the NSW Police Force.
The investigation started last month (September, 2024) when the Philippine Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime provided AFP officers based in Manila with information concerning a man in Australia allegedly engaging in live online child sexual abuse of a Philippines-based child, which was allegedly facilitated by the child's mother. The report was also referred to Philippines law enforcement for investigation of the alleged facilitator.
The AFP officers in Manila allegedly identified the man as a NSW resident, and referred the matter to the NSW Police Force Child Exploitation Internet Unit for investigation.
On 19 September 2024, NSW Police executed a search warrant at the home of a man, 33, in Granville. The man was subsequently arrested and charged with planning for child sex offences outside Australia, contrary to section 272.20 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
This offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. The man is next due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on 15 November, 2024.
On 17 October, 2024, with the assistance of AFP officers in Manila, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group Women and Children Cybercrime Protection Unit executed a warrant in Calamba City, Philippines.
Two women, aged 22 and 37, who were allegedly identified as facilitating live online child sexual abuse of a young boy, were arrested. They were charged with online sexual abuse and exploitation of a child, trafficking, and child abuse material offences. The child was removed from harm and is currently being cared for by the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development.
AFP Assistant Commissioner David McLean said this matter highlighted the importance of law enforcement working together across the world to protect children and combat their exploitation and abuse.
"International borders are no barrier to those who seek to harm children, and that is why the AFP collaborates with local and international partners to combat these crimes," AC McLean said.
"The goal the AFP shares with our international partners is to protect children, wherever they live, and ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and put before the courts wherever they are.
"Those who prey on children anywhere in the world need to know that they are running out of places to hide, because there are hundreds of law enforcement agencies committed to hunting them down and bringing them to account for their abuse or exploitation of children."
Philippine National Police, Police Major General Ronnie Francis M Cariaga praised the swift action taken to rescue a child and arrest the offenders, which was made possible by close coordination between partner law enforcement agencies.
"To all those engaging in online sexual exploitation of children, let me be absolutely clear: there will be no leniency. For us in law enforcement, there is no greater priority than protecting our children. Every second we act is a second closer to bringing you to justice," PMGEN Cariaga said.
NSW Police Force Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty also reiterated the NSW Police Force's commitment to bringing online child exploitation offenders to justice.
"We will continue to work tirelessly, in partnership with domestic and international agencies, to disrupt offenders and rescue children," Supt Doherty said.
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.
