BALWYN, VIC. — A 63-year-old Balwyn man appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, November 12, after being charged with the alleged possession of child abuse material.
The Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET), comprised of investigators from the AFP and Victoria Police, began an investigation after receiving intelligence about a Melbourne man allegedly accessing child abuse material online.
Victorian JACET members executed a search warrant at a Balwyn home on Thursday, November 5, with assistance from AFP Digital Forensics, Forensic Search and Imagery, and Canine teams.
Investigators seized multiple electronic devices during the search warrant, which are undergoing specialist forensic examination.
THe Balwyn man, 63, was subsequently charged with one count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code (Cth); and one count of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The offences each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Ray Imbriano said the AFP and its law enforcement partners remained committed to identifying and prosecuting anyone who exploited children online.
“Online child abuse material is not victimless. Every image and video depicts the abuse of a child and causes ongoing harm to victims,” D/Supt Imbriano said.
“The AFP works closely with domestic and international law enforcement partners to identify alleged offenders, rescue children from harm, and to ensure those responsible are brought before the courts.”
Victoria Police Detective Acting Superintendent Paul Lloyd, Cybercrime Division, said Victoria Police were committed to protecting children from harm and ensuring our most vulnerable were protected from those who sought to target or exploit them.
“Through coordinated investigations, we will identify those responsible and they will be held to account,” a/Supt Lloyd said.
“We will continue working closely with the AFP and our law enforcement partners to ensure anyone who exploits children online is brought before the courts. Anyone with information on online child exploitation is urged to come forward and report it.”
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.
