Queensland man charged with possessing child abuse material
A 43-year-old Queensland man is due to appear in court today charged with child exploitation offences following an Australian Federal Police (AFP) child protection investigation.
Officers from the Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) executed a search warrant at an address in Karalee on 21 January 2021.
During the search of the home a laptop, computer hard drive and a USB drive allegedly containing child abuse material were located and seized.
Police also identified and seized more child abuse material from an online cloud storage platform.
The man was later charged with two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service and two counts of possessing child exploitation material.
The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
He is due to appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court today (11 February 2021).
AFP Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson, Child Protection Operations said the charges demonstrated the AFP's commitment to investigate and charge offenders believed to be involved in the vile online world of child exploitation and sexual abuse.
"This work is gut-wrenching, but our investigators are relentless in their pursuit of anyone sharing or accessing child abuse material, and they will follow-up any information to bring these people to justice," Detective Superintendent Hudson said.
Members of the public who have any information about this network or 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.
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