SA man charged with alleged online sexual abuse involving a child overseas

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This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police, South Australia Police and Australian Border Force

A South Australian man is expected to face Christies Beach Magistrates Court today (1 June, 2023) charged with child abuse offences allegedly involving a victim overseas.

The South Australia Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (SA JACET), which comprises AFP and SA Police, was notified after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Adelaide Airport stopped the man for a baggage examination when he arrived on an international flight on 23 May, 2023.

During the examination, ABF officers allegedly found child abuse files on the man's mobile phone. The man, 65, was initially charged with one child abuse offence.

SA JACET executed a search warrant on the man's Yankalilla residence on 23 May, 2023. Police seized a number of additional electronic devices including a laptop, mobile phone and external storage devices. Forensic examination of the devices allegedly identified child abuse material, including of an alleged victim overseas. The AFP is continuing their enquiries with foreign law enforcement partners.

The man has now been charged with nine offences:

• One count of persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia, contrary to section 272.11 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• One count of producing and distributing child abuse material outside Australia, contrary to section 273.6 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• Five 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); and
• One count of importing tier 2 goods, contrary to section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth).

The maximum penalty for the offence is 30 years' imprisonment.

AFP Sergeant Joe Barry said online child abuse offending is not a victimless crime.

"The persistent sexual abuse of a child through live streaming is abhorrent and causes real and significant harm to innocent victims," he said.

"The AFP, together with our state, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners, remains committed to relentlessly pursuing those who harm our community's most vulnerable - our children.

"Those who seek out child exploitation online material should be warned - we will identify you and bring you to justice, no matter where you are in the world."

ABF Acting Chief Superintendent Operations South Australia, Linda Jose said the ABF is on high alert for anyone involved in this heinous type of criminal activity.

"As the first line of defence for the Australian community, the ABF regularly detects and prevents this type of material from causing further harm to its victims," A/g Chief Superintendent Jose said.

"It's incredibly sad that we have to be on the lookout for these individuals in the first place, but Australians should know that we work very closely with our partner law enforcement agencies in order to detect these crimes and bring those responsible 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 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.

For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit www.accce.gov.au.

Note to media:

Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL not 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'

The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material - the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.

Use of the phrase 'child pornography' is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:

• indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
• conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.

Media enquiries:

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