Koo Wee Rup man charged over alleged child abuse material offences
This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police.
A 65-year-old Koo Wee Rup, Victoria man accused of sharing child abuse material using a social media account will face court in Melbourne today (14 August, 2020).
The investigation launched after the Australian Federal Police-led (AFP) Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received information from authorities in the United States in relation to alleged child exploitation offences committed by a resident in Victoria, Australia.
The Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET), comprising of members from the AFP and Victoria Police (VICPOL), executed a search warrant at a Koo Wee Rup property on Tuesday 11 August, 2020.
The man was arrested at the property and multiple electronic devices were seized for further digital forensic analysis.
The accused was granted conditional bail and will reappear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today, charged with one count of transmitting child abuse material contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Rosalind Grant, said sadly, the appetite for child abuse material is increasing globally.
"The AFP is working side-by-side with our law enforcement partners to outsmart those lurking in the shadows who seek to do harm to our children," a/Detective Superintendent Grant said.
"We will not stand by as perpetrators attempt to run roughshod over the innocence of our most vulnerable, whether they be in Australia or overseas."
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.
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
AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297