A Sydney man is expected to appear in Parramatta Local Court today (12 January, 2024) charged with soliciting, possessing and transmitting child abuse material.
The AFP investigation began following a report from the Philippines National Police (PNP) Women and Children Protection Centre.
The report alleged an Australian national had groomed Filipino minors, enticing them to send self-produced explicit material in exchange for money.
AFP investigators allegedly linked the man, 41, to the report via his social media accounts and other evidence obtained by the Philippine National Police.
A search warrant was executed at the man's Greystanes home on 14 November, 2023 with investigators seizing three mobile devices and a laptop alleged to contain child abuse material. The devices will be subject to further forensic examination.
The man was arrested and charged with:
- Four counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of child abuse material to be transmitted to self using a carriage service contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iV) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for the offences includes up to 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Jeremy Staunton said soliciting child abuse material was not a victimless crime.
"These children are real people and not commodities to be used for the grotesque gratification of predators," Det. a/Supt Staunton added.
"AFP investigators remain committed to working with our overseas law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest and prosecute those who produce, share or access this material."
Chief of the Philippines National Police Women and Children Protection Centre, Police Brigadier General Portia Manalad, said this borderless crime required cooperation between the PNP and international partners such as the AFP.
"The sharing of information is vital in arresting perpetrators in both Philippines and Australia," Brigadier General Manalad said
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation 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 at www.accce.gov.au/report. 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 at www.accce.gov.au/support.
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 www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
