A Queensland man has been jailed and 16 children in the Philippines have been removed from harm in a major international child protection investigation.
The 57-year-old man was arrested in January last year and charged with two child abuse-related offences, including trying to arrange sexual activity with children in the Philippines.
He was sentenced in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Monday.
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Australian Federal Police arrested the Mackay man at Sydney International Airport last year after Australian Border Force officers found child abuse material on his phone and messages “detailing his intent to pay a facilitator to enable him to sexually abuse children in the Philippines”.
After his arrest, 16 children were removed from harm in the Philippines in a joint operation with the AFP, Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre and the Philippine National Police.
The Queensland man pleaded guilty in February this year to one count of intentionally importing child abuse material and preparing or planning to engage in sexual activity with a child outside of Australia.
He was jailed for two years and fined $2500.
Having been in custody since July 30 last year, he will be released on September 30 to serve the remainder of his sentence in the community under the supervision of a parole officer.
Joint operation
The investigation showed the commitment of police around the world to work together to combat the exploitation and abuse of children, AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said.
“Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live, and to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts,” Tsardoulias said.
“This is not a victimless crime.
“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators.
“The AFP is working hand-in-glove with its partners here in Australia and abroad to find these offenders and bring them to justice.”
Border Force officers had a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse material, ABF Acting Superintendent Andrew Snook said.
“There is no place for child abuse material within our community,” Snook said.
“ABF officers are dedicated to protecting the community and we will continue to work with our domestic and international partners to catch, investigate and prosecute all persons associated with this abhorrent activity.”