Former government software engineer Songnan Bao pleads guilty to possessing child exploitation material

The software engineer and young father had faced two counts before his latest court hearing.

A former government software engineer and young father has admitted to possessing child exploitation material.

Speaking through an interpreter in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, former government employee Songnan Bao pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child exploitation material.

At his first hearing, prosecutors told the court they would need until June to go through the “extent of the downloads”.

However, that date was called on early for Bao to enter his plea.

Casey Isaacs, for Bao, said a case had been conceded and his client would be pleading guilty to one count.

“It is alleged that on December 9, 2023, at Valley View, you possessed child pornography,” Magistrate John Wells said to him.

“How do you plead?”

“Guilty,” Bao said through a translator.

Former government software developer Songnan Bao has been charged with possessing child abuse material.

Bao pleaded guilty on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

Mr Bao was arrested and charged on December 19 last year by detectives from the elite Joint Anti Child Abuse Team – a joint effort by SA Police and the AFP.

He was originally charged with two counts of possessing the material, however prosecutors on Tuesday told Mr Wells they would be withdrawing the second count due to his guilty plea.

According to Mr Bao’s LinkedIn, he spent nearly 6 years working for the Department of Human Services as a software engineer and developer.

He is currently employed as a software engineer for WiseTech Global, according to his profile.

At his first appearance, Bao’s wife told the media her husband was a good man.

“I believe he is a good person, he has good morals, he does the right thing. He’s a good father, a good worker and everyone likes him,” she said.

Bao will face the District Court in July ahead of sentencing submissions.