Singapore student charged over child-like sex doll

Australian Border Force (ABF) Investigators have charged a 26 year old Singapore national over the importation of a child-like sex doll.

The man, who is in Australia on a Student Visa, was arrested yesterday (Thursday, 9 January 2020) following the execution of a search warrant on a residence in Perth.

The investigation commenced on 24 December 2019 after ABF officers intercepted a parcel sent from China at a Perth air cargo depot. The parcel was x-rayed and allegedly found to contain a silicone female child-like sex doll.

The man has been charged with the following:

  • One count of Importing Tier 2 goods, in contravention of Section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901.

He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday 17 January 2020.

The maximum penalty for the import of child abuse material is 10 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $525,000.

ABF Investigations Acting Commander Nicholas Walker, said ABF officers were seizing increasing numbers of child-like sex dolls being imported through the international mail and air cargo streams.

“Child-like sex dolls are an emerging form of child abuse material that the ABF is determined to prevent from crossing our border,” Acting Commander Walker said.

“Dolls that are manufactured for a sexual purpose that depict a child under the age of 18 are classified as ‘objectionable goods’ and are prohibited from being imported into Australia.

“Tackling child abuse material is an operational priority for the ABF as part of its role in protecting the border from individuals who may pose a threat to the community.”

In addition to the importation offences, the Government last year strengthened the Commonwealth offences for possessing and otherwise dealing with child-like sex dolls.

On 21 September 2019, the Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Act 2019 came into force. These reforms amended the Criminal Code Act 1995 to:

  • introduce a new offence for possessing a child‑like sex doll, which is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment; and

  • amend the definition of ‘child abuse material’ to put beyond doubt that it is an offence to, for example, use the internet to advertise or solicit, or use a postal service to send, a child-like sex doll.

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