Man charged with child exploitation offence
This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police
A 42-year-old Altona North man is scheduled to appear before Melbourne Magistrate’s Court today after being charged by Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) officers with allegedly attempting to procure a child overseas for sexual activity.
On Thursday, 10 January 2019, members from the Victorian JACET, comprising the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Victoria Police, conducted a search warrant at the man’s Altona North home. During the search, police seized a mobile phone - which was found to contain child exploitation material.
Police will allege that the man was actively working to travel overseas to the child with the intent to engage in sexual exploitation activity.
The Victorian JACET received a referral from UK police which helped launch the investigation.
The man has been charged with:
- Procuring child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, contrary to section 272.14(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)
- Knowingly Possess Child Pornography, contrary to section 51((g)(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic).
The maximum penalty for the offences the man has been charged with is imprisonment for 15 years.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child sexual exploitation are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at https://www.crimestoppers.com.au/
Media enquiries
Victoria Police Media (03) 9247 5205
AFP Media (Canberra) (02) 6131 6333
Note to media
CHILD EXPLOITATION IMAGES, NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’
Use of the phrase “child pornography” 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 captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not “pornography”.
Subscribe and receive email alerts (link: https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases) when new media releases are published.