Western Australia man charged for child exploitation
A 32-year-old Bunbury man is scheduled to appear in the Bunbury Magistrates Court today, charged with accessing and possessing child abuse material.
Following a referral from the US Department of Homeland Security, officers from the Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) executed a search warrant at the man’s residence in Usher, Bunbury on 14 January 2016.
During the search warrant, a mobile phone was seized which allegedly contained child abuse images.
It will be alleged in court that the mobile phone was being used to access and transmit child exploitation material.
The man was arrested and charged with the following offences:
One count of using a carriage service to access child pornography, contrary to section 474.19 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years imprisonment.
- Two counts of possessing child exploitation material, contrary to Section 220 of the Criminal Code (WA). The maximum penalty for this offence is seven years imprisonment.
The WA JACET comprises of Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Western Australia Police officers, working together to combat child sexual exploitation.
Those engaged in or contemplating child exploitation activity should be aware that they will be identified and prosecuted.
If you have any information relating to child abuse or exploitation, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Further safety tips for keeping children safe online can be found at www.police.wa.gov.au and www.thinkuknow.org.au.
Media enquiries
AFP Media: (02) 6131 6333
WA Police Media: (08) 9222 1011
Note to media:
CHILD EXPLOITATION IMAGES, NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’
Use of the phrase ‘child pornography’ actually benefits child sex abusers:
- It indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser
- It conjures up 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.