Sydney man charged for allegedly possessing child abuse material
Editor's note: arrest footage is available for download.
A 28-year-old Sydney man is due to appear before Liverpool Local Court today (22 December 2021) after Australian Federal Police investigators charged him for allegedly possessing child abuse material.
Investigators from the Eastern Command Child Protection Operations team executed a search warrant at the man's Moorebank home yesterday (21 December 2021) after receiving a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The initial report identified a Facebook user who was uploading child abuse material to Facebook and Facebook Messenger platforms.
The email addresses associated with the Facebook account were identified in approximately 90 additional NCMEC reports for child abuse material.
Further enquiries linked the 28-year-old man to the account, and he was arrested at his Moorebank home. Investigators seized a number of electronic devices during the warrant, that officers will allege contained child abuse material. The devices will now be subject to further forensic examination.
AFP Constable Bernadette Ceza said the possession and uploading of child abuse material continues the abuse of child victims.
"Our child protection investigators will not stop putting people before the court if they upload, share or possess this vile material," Constable Ceza said.
"Children are being re-victimised every single time someone accesses or shares images or videos of children being abused."
The man was charged with:
- four counts of possess or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- two counts of possess child abuse material, contrary to section Section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years' imprisonment and 10 years' imprisonment, respectively.
Notes to media
Media are reminded of their obligations under s15A of the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW) and s105 of the Children and Young Person (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW).
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