A Northern Territory (NT) man has been charged with 12 counts of child abuse-related offences by the NT Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET).
The Katherine man is expected to appear at the Katherine Local Court today (25 March 2022).
The investigation began in December 2021 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 the Discord platform.
Investigators from the NT JACET, which comprises AFP and NT Police officers, allegedly linked the 30-year-old man to the associated Discord account via Internet Protocol (IP) records.
A search warrant was executed at the man’s home on Thursday (24 March 2022), with investigators seizing a mobile phone and one Discord account connected to the alleged offending. The digital device and account-based data will now be subject to further forensic examination.
AFP Acting Sergeant Cain Denman said authorities were appealing for help from parents and carers to keep children safe.
“Please talk to children about what platforms, apps and games they are using and remind them never to reveal personal information to any friends they met online,” he said.
“Supervision is not only critical to helping prevent an incident happening, but can also help adults to quickly take action if they need to alert law enforcement.”
NT Police Detective Acting Sergeant Mark Cronin said police will not stop in the fight against child exploitation, and giving parents the tools to help keep their kids safe online is a big part in reducing the opportunities for these offenders.
The man was arrested and charged with:
- Two counts of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of making child abuse material available using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Soliciting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iv) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- Three counts of using a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.26(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each of these offences is 15 years’ imprisonment.
The man was remanded in custody and will appear in court today.
The AFP is also urging the public to help it solve cold case child abuse investigations through its Stop Child Abuse – Trace an Object initiative. The smallest clue can often help solve a case.
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 www.accce.gov.au/trace
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 to combatting child abuse.
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 information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
