Six children in the Philippines have been rescued from alleged child abuse after an investigation into a Western Australian man.
The 53-year-old Albany man has been charged with multiple child abuse-related offences and was due to reappear in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.
He first appeared before the court on March 27 charged with two counts of engaging in conduct in relation to a child younger than 16 with the intention of procuring the child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, two counts of accessing child abuse material, and one count of doing an act to prepare for an offence involving sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia.
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The charges carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail if convicted.
The man came to the attention of authorities after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted him at Perth Airport on March 26 following his return from the Philippines.
Officers allegedly found child abuse material on his phone during an examination of his electronic devices and luggage, along with communications with a Filipino resident suspected of facilitating the procurement of children.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) shared intelligence with the Philippine National Police (PNP), which located and rescued six children believed to have been exploited.
Detective Acting Inspector Josh Gilmour said removing the children from harm highlighted the importance of international cooperation.
“The AFP is supercharging global operations through international partnerships like PICACC (the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center) to protect children, remove them from harm and pursue those who target vulnerable communities here in Australia and around the world,” Gilmour said.
ABF Inspector John Sweet said the agency had zero tolerance for the importation, possession or distribution of child abuse material.
“Digital examinations conducted by our highly trained officers can detect and disrupt the activities of offenders who orchestrate these abhorrent crimes both online and internationally,” Sweet said.
Anyone with information about child abuse is urged to contact the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
