A 66-year-old man from the Northern Territory is due to face court today, charged with possessing child abuse material following an investigation by the Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET).
Officers executed a search warrant at the man’s home in Bellamack in Palmerston last Friday (28 August 2020).
During a search of the home, police seized a number of electronic items, including three computers and numerous hard drives which police will allege contained child abuse material.
The 66-year-old man was charged with:
- Two counts of possessing child abuse material obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth),
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 pf the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth),
- One count of possessing child abuse material contrary to Section 125B of the Criminal Code Act 1983 (NT).
The maximum penalty for the Commonwealth offences includes up to 15 years imprisonment and for the NT offences 10 years imprisonment, if convicted.
He was scheduled to appear in Darwin Local Court today (1 September 2020).
The seized devices will be subject to further forensic examination and enquiries into the man’s online activities will continue.
AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the AFP is committed to working with state law enforcement to stop child exploitation and abuse.
“The nature of online child sexual exploitation means it can be borderless and multi-jurisdictional, so we need to be cooperative and flexible in order to get the best possible outcomes for the most vulnerable members of our society,” Detective Superintendent Hudson said.
“It takes a network to break a network, which is why working hand-in-glove across law enforcement to remove children from harm is essential, and this unimaginable and repulsive crime is an example of the importance of these partnerships.”
Northern Territory Police Force Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Lawson said the arrest is another example of the efforts by the Northern Territory and Australian Federal Police to ensure that the people who commit these crimes are identified and brought before the courts.
“Police will continue to identify and investigate those who prey on the most vulnerable people in our community,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Lawson 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.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button.
