A 32-year-old Filipino national has today been sentenced to three years imprisonment after pleading guilty to three offences relating to the access of child abuse material.
The man was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria, after being arrested in November 2018 by the Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (VIC JACET).
The man was an Australian resident when he arrived into Melbourne International Airport, returning from vacation in the United States, on 29 November 2018, and was the subject of a baggage examination by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers. His electronic devices were reviewed and found to contain over 1,000 files depicting images of child abuse.
Police arrested the man and charged him with three criminal offences:
- Import tier 2 goods, namely child pornography, contrary to section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth);
- Access child pornography material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.19(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- Distribute child pornography material outside of Australia, contrary to section 273.5(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
He is facing a non-parole period of one year and nine months.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in the possession or sharing of child exploitation material 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 at www.accce.gov.au/report .
