Six children have been removed from harm in the Philippines and a West Australian man has been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years and six months’ imprisonment for online child abuse material offences.
The man, 74, was sentenced yesterday (28 July, 2026) in the Perth District Court. He will be eligible for parole in six years and nine months.
The Walliston man had previously pleaded guilty to:
- Three counts of using a carriage service to groom another person to make it easier to procure persons under 16, contrary to section 474.27AA(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- Two counts of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to himself, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth), and
- One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(A) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
An investigation began in May, 2025, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers stopped the man at Perth Airport following his arrival on an international flight and selected him for a baggage examination.
ABF officers identified videos depicting children being sexually abused on the man’s mobile phone and alerted the AFP.
AFP forensic examination of the phone revealed conversations in an instant messaging application between the man and a female in the Philippines, during which the woman transmitted child abuse material.
In June, 2025, the AFP referred the matter to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC), and the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Human Trafficking Division (HTRAD) began an investigation.
In April, 2026, the NBI HTRAD executed a search warrant at a home in Bislig City, Philippines, where a woman was arrested and six children – who are known to the woman – were removed from harm.
The woman, 32, was later charged and is currently before the court in the Philippines.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal said the removal of the children demonstrated the importance of international collaborations with partners such as PICACC, which the AFP helped establish.
“The AFP is supercharging global operations through international partnerships like PICACC to remove children from harmful situations and target those who prey on vulnerable communities domestically and overseas,” Det Supt Chwal said.
“Our investigators are relentless in their pursuit of anyone participating in these insidious crimes and will use every resource available to ensure they are brought before the courts.”
ABF Superintendent John Eldridge said the Australian border was a critical tool to disrupt the proliferation of child abuse material and protect children from abuse worldwide.
“Behind every image there is a real child who has been exploited during its production. Our officers are fully committed to detect and disrupt this awful abuse through our work at international airports Australia-wide,” Supt Eldridge said.
“Unfortunately, we are finding child abuse material on digital devices of travellers all too often, but when we do, we act decisively with our law enforcement partners to ensure these perpetrators face criminal charges and prevent further harm.”
Supervising Agent Ma. Rosalie S. Laguardia, National Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking Division, said mitigating the transnational threat of those involved in the production, sharing or possession of child abuse material necessitates enhanced coordination with international law enforcement authorities.
“Concerted, cross-border cooperation will yield a resilient, long-term solution to this global menace,” Supervising Agent Ma. Laguardia said.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE.
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 is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
