WA man in court on five online child abuse offences
This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and Western Australia Police Force
A 58-year-old South Yunderup man is expected to face Perth Magistrates Court for the first time today (9 October) on five offences relating to child abuse material allegedly found on his electronic devices.
The Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) charged the man last month (September 2020) after investigating a referral from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The NCMEC report alleged a person suspected to be in WA was uploading child abuse material to an online platform. Police inquiries allegedly connected the 58-year-old to the account.
Investigators from WA JACET, which comprises Australian Federal Police and Western Australia Police Force, executed a search warrant at the man’s home in August this year.
Officers seized electronic devices for examination and allegedly found child abuse material stored on the devices.
The man was arrested and charged with five counts of possession of child abuse material suspected of being accessed through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The potential maximum penalty for the offence is 15 years imprisonment.
AFP Sergeant Joel Van Den Brun, from WA JACET, said child sexual abuse offences committed online have real-world consequences for both perpetrators and victims.
“Abuse causes irreparable damage and no child anywhere in the world should be violated for the perverted desires of some people in our community,” Sgt Van Den Brun said.
“Anyone who commits child sexual abuse offences online is complicit in the physical and emotional harm of children. “We are working tirelessly with our partners to hunt down offenders and ensure they face justice.”
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report.
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.
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