A man has appeared in Darwin Local Court yesterday (17 July, 2024) charged with five child abuse material offences.
The Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET) began an investigation following a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an Australian user uploading child abuse material online.
AFP investigators allegedly linked the man, 56, to the illegal online activity.
A search warrant was executed at his Jabiru home on Tuesday (16 July 2024) where investigators allegedly found child abuse material on electronic devices. The devices will be subject to further forensic examination.
AFP Acting Commander Greg Davis said the AFP, together with its state and territory law enforcement partners, remained committed to protecting our community's most vulnerable - our children.
"Anyone who views this material is committing a crime,'' A/Commander Davis said.
"Our message to online offenders has not changed - if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.
"This is not a victimless crime. Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators."
The man was charged with:
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material to a person under the age of 16, contrary to section 474.27A 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) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of possess or control child abuse material, obtained or accessed via a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each of these offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
The man was remanded in custody and will reappear in the Darwin Local Court on 20 August, 2024.
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.
