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Friday, March 29, 2024

Man, 60, facing online child abuse charges

A 60-year-old man accused of accessing and possessing child abuse material will face court today after being charged by the Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (VIC JACET).

An investigation into the man’s activities began after Australian Federal Police (AFP) allegedly identified an online user in Victoria during a separate investigation into an alleged online offender in the Northern Territory.

The AFP also received reports from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the online sharing platform Kik allegedly identifying the same accounts as uploading child abuse material.

Investigators allegedly linked the Melbourne man to the accounts.

VIC JACET, which comprises AFP and Victoria Police officers, executed a search warrant at the man’s home on Wednesday, with investigators seizing a computer, mobile phone and external hard-drive.

Police will allege they found several images of child abuse material on the digital devices, which will be subject to further forensic examination.

Commander Investigations Southern Command, Todd Hunter said “accessing, sharing and uploading child abuse material is a crime – it causes real trauma to children, regardless of the quantity accessed or shared.”

“If you access one child abuse image you are committing a crime and the AFP has partners across Australia and overseas who work with us to ensure you will be caught and charged,” Commander Hunter said.

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.

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