A 61-year-old man will face Adelaide Magistrates Court today charged with accessing child abuse material online.
The man was charged in March after officers searched his Adelaide home and allegedly found child abuse material on a mobile phone.
The arrest was the result of an investigation launched after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) received a referral from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
South Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (SA JACET), which comprises AFP and SA Police officers, seized a number of electronic devices during the search at the man’s home and these will be subject to further forensic examination.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Ben Moses said the charges demonstrated the commitment of the AFP, SA Police and other partners to investigate and charge offenders believed to be involved in child exploitation.
“This work is gut-wrenching, but our investigators are relentless in their pursuit of anyone accessing child abuse material, and they will follow up any information to bring these people to justice,” he said.
SA Police Detective Superintendent James Blandford said the partnership between the AFP and State Police drove a powerful enforcement and disruption approach to child sex offenders, which had a global reach.
“It makes no difference who you are, where you are or who you are offending against, JACET will find you and hold you to account,” Detective Superintendent Blandford said.
The man was charged with possessing or controlling child abuse material; and using a carriage service to access child abuse material. The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years’ imprisonment.
The AFP is urging the public to help it solve cold case child abuse investigations through its Stop Child Abuse – Trace an Object initiative. The world-leading initiative, is centred on the publishing of non-confrontational images that can be seen in child exploitation online material such as pieces of clothing or bedding.
Australian investigators believe the images are linked to victims in the Asia Pacific Region, including Australia, and are calling on the community to view the images and make a report at the ACCCE website.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is at the centre of a collaborative national approach.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into child sexual abuse and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
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 or report online.
