Cairns man pleads not guilty to child sex, rape, drug supply
A Cairns man, 67, faced 14 charges including child sex and dangerous drug supply but he pleaded not guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court ahead of August trial.
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A SECOND man has been charged this week in an alleged Cairns child sex ring and faced Cairns Magistrates Court on June 10.
On Friday Officer in Charge of the Cairns District Cairns Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU), Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Gooiker confirmed that on June 9, detectives had charged a 67-year-old Cairns man, with alleged child sex offences as part of ongoing Operation Uniform Kalahari.
Det Snr Sgt Gooniker praised the bravery of eight girls who came forward and assisted police which allowed them to make the second arrest.
On June 10, the man who cannot be named for legal reasons appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court via video-link.
He was represented by lawyer James Ellis-Smith before Magistrate Joe Pinder, while the police prosecutor was Senior Constable James Chapman.
The man is facing 14 charges including five counts of supply dangerous drugs to a minor, three counts of wounding, two counts each of indecent treatment of children under 16 years and grooming a child under 16 years and one count each of rape and of sexual assault.
“My client is pleading not guilty your honour,” Mr Ellis-Smith told the court.
“He is not applying for bail.”
On June 7, Det Snr Sgt Gooiker, confirmed police charged a 58-year-old Cairns man Anton Gerard Straatman, with 11 counts of supplying drugs to a minor under 16, six counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, two counts each of supply drugs and possess drugs and one count each of grooming, attempt to procure indecent treatment, offence to possess S4 poison and possess drug utensil, as a part of Operation Uniform Kalahari.
Mr Straatman appeared before Cairns Magistrates Court and is remanded in custody to reappear on August 3.
Det Snr Sgt Gooiker said Operation Uniform Kalahari was established to extensively investigate the alleged grooming and exploitation of at least eight vulnerable young people in the Cairns area since January this year.
It will be alleged the young girls, seven of which are aged under 16, were groomed, indecently assaulted, and supplied with dangerous drugs including methylamphetamine and cannabis.
Police and other support services are providing assistance to the young people involved and their families, Det Snr Sgt Gooiker said.
He said protecting vulnerable young people is the top priority for the Queensland Police Service.
“We will investigate all reports of offences against children, and arrest and charge alleged offenders within the full force of the law,” Det Snr Sgt Gooiker said.
“The immense bravery of victims’ in these matters to come forward and speak to police, allows the Queensland Police Service to track down these offenders and put them before the courts.”
He urged anyone with information or who believes they or someone they know may have been impacted to come forward.
Investigations remain ongoing.
Magistrate Pinder set a brief date for the evidence of July 29 and ordered he remain in custody for trial in August.
“The man is on remand to appear on August 17 at 9.30am,” he said.
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