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04 November 2020, 4:30pm
Media Release

Jail for Queensland man for arranging overseas child sexual abuse

A 66-year-old Biggera Waters man has been jailed for six and a half years for engaging in online sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16 in the Philippines back in 2017.

The Queensland Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) began its investigation in October 2017 after a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in the United States to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The report indicated a Queensland based man was attempting to arrange a meeting with a girl under the age of 16 in the Philippines, to exchange money for sexual activity.

On Thursday 5 October 2017 the man was arrested at the Brisbane International Airport by officers from the QLD JACET, as he was due to board a plane to the Philippines.

On 2 November 2020, the man pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to the following charges:

  • persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia, contrary to section 272.11(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
  • using a carriage service to cause child pornography material to be transmitted to self, contrary to section 474.19(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
  • using a carriage service to transmit child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
  • encouraging an offence against Division 272, contrary to 272.19(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
  • possessing child exploitation material, contrary to section 228D of the Criminal Code (Qld).

He was today (4 November 2020) sentenced to six and a half years imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the investigation showed how vital it was for the AFP to work with international partners.

"This investigation began with a report from the United States about an Australian grooming a vulnerable child in the Philippines – this demonstrates that the online abuse of children is a global problem, and requires a global response," Detective Superintendent Hudson said.

The investigation involved significant assistance from the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation through AFP's International Command in Manila. This reflects the collaborative and coordinated approach taken by the Australian Federal Police and our Philippine law enforcement partners to counter the exploitation of children impacting both regions.

The QLD JACET includes members from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

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'

Use of the phrase "child pornography" 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 captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not "pornography".

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