A Sydney man will front Downing Centre Local Court today charged with child abuse material offences.The 58-year-old from Coogee was arrested on December 11, 2024, and charged with one count of soliciting child abuse material and one count of possessing child abuse material.The AFP will allege he sent more than 600 files, including child abuse material, to himself between May 2021 and October 2024.
A Sydney man will front Downing Centre Local Court today charged with child abuse material related offences. (Getty)He allegedly sent the files on an encrypted communications platform.The man was brought to law enforcement's attention on December 3 when he flew into Sydney from the UAE and was selected for baggage examination by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers.A digital examination of a phone and laptop located by ABF officers allegedly uncovered child abuse material on December 10.AFP Child Protection Operations opened an investigation and officers searched the man's house in Coogee on December 11.A bag with about 25 video cassettes, a laptop and three hard drives, two of which appeared damaged, were seized.The man was arrested on December 11 and refused bail when he appeared at Waverley Local Court on December 12.The safest – and most dangerous – places to be in NSW at nightView GalleryHe faces a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment for the two child abuse material related offences he has been charged with."Our message to offenders has not changed – if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted," AFP Detective Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said.ABF Superintendent Elke West reiterated the warning, adding: "Those who are seeking to exploit children should heed our warning: you will be caught."