A 65-year-old North Sydney man has appeared in Hornsby Local Court charged with three online child abuse-related offences.
The investigation began in September when the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material to Facebook Messenger.
AFP investigators allegedly linked the man to the illegal online activity.
A search warrant was executed at the man Hornsby home late last week, where police allegedly found child abuse material on multiple electronic devices and the Facebook account used to transmit child abuse material.
A mobile phone and laptop were seized and will be subject to further forensic examination.
The man was arrested and taken into custody where he was refused bail.
AFP Senior Constable Brendan Hayler said the charges demonstrated the AFP’s commitment to investigate and charge offenders believed to be involved in child exploitation and sexual abuse.
“This arrest should serve as a warning that law enforcement is dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court,” Senior Constable Hayler said.
“Our investigators are relentless in their pursuit of anyone sharing or accessing child abuse material.
“But we will always need the community’s help to ensure we are effective in identifying victims and perpetrators.
“If you have information that could help law enforcement, please contact the ACCCE at www.accce.gov.au/report.”
The man was charged with two counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, and one count of using carriage service to access child abuse material.
The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years’ imprisonment.
