Operation Molto: Brisbane man jailed for sharing child abuse material online

A man from North Brisbane charged as part of Operation Molto for sharing child abuse material online, has been sentenced to 18 months’ jail.

The 53-year-old man was sentenced today (2 June 2022) in Brisbane District Court after pleading guilty to five offences relating to accessing, possessing and transmitting child abuse material (CAM).

The man was investigated as part of Operation Molto, which commenced in 2019 when the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received intelligence from New Zealand Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs showing thousands of offenders were using a cloud storage platform to share abhorrent child abuse material online.

AFP members from Brisbane JACET, AFP Child Protection Operations and the ACCCE, executed search warrants at a residential address in the Brisbane suburb of Morayfield in February 2021.

During the search of the premises a number of electronic devices were located and seized for containing child abuse material.

AFP Sergeant Bianca Warland said the arrest was another reminder of the prevalence of online child abuse.

“Unfortunately, online child abuse material is not rare, and is a focus for the AFP and other law enforcement agencies across the world.

“Parents, caregivers and the community are the first line of defence when it comes to protecting our children,” AFP Sergeant Warland said.

“We need you to educate yourself visit thinkuknow.org.au to learn more about what you can do to keep children safe online.”

The 53-year-old man sentenced today pleaded guilty to five offences:

  • Using a carriage service to access child pornography material, contrary to s474.19(1)(a)(i)of the Criminal Code (Cth);
  • Possessing child abuse material obtained using a carriage service, contrary to s.474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
  • Using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to s.474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
  • Two counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to s. 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth);

His sentence of 18 months’ jail includes a non-parole period of six months.

Operation Molto, which has been finalised, has led to more than 100 Australians being charged with more than 1,000 child-abuse-related offences. The global operation has resulted in 153 children being removed from harm, including 51 children in Australia.

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.

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.

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