Australian Federal Police rescue 12-year-old girl being abused online
A 12-year-old girl who was allegedly “live-streamed” on social media by a Sydney man while engaged in sexual activity has been rescued by the Australian Federal Police.
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A 12-year-old girl who was allegedly live streamed by a Sydney man on social media as she was forced into sexual activity has been rescued in a multinational police operation.
The girl, believed to be a Philippine national, was saved following a joint investigation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the International Justice Mission (IJM).
The operation was triggered after the arrest of the North Rocks man in September.
He had come to the attention of the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) after child abuse material was uploaded to social media.
The NCMEC, a private not for profit organisation, referred its evidence to the Federal government’s Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), with the man identified as a NSW resident.
AFP investigators from the NSW Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) then started Operation Culgoa, an investigation into the man and others possible offenders based in the Philippines.
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A search warrant executed on the man’s North Rocks home and his arrest in September resulted in the seizure of electronic devices allegedly containing child abuse material.
Yesterday the 12-year-old-girl was rescued from a premises in the city of Rizal, about a two hours’ drive from Manila, by Philippine police, accompanied by the AFP. A 39-year-old woman was also arrested.
The girl has been placed into the care of the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development.
A 63-year-old Sydney man has been charged with one count of procuring child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, one count of use a carriage service to solicit child pornography, one count of transmit child pornography material and three counts of possess child abuse material.
He is next due to appear in the Parramatta Local Court on 22 November 2019.
Police will allege that the man communicated with people offshore to procure children — via a trusted adult — to produce and transmit child abuse material.
The AFP’s Senior Officer in Manila, Federal Agent Andrew Perkins, said the international investigation demonstrated the importance of cross-border collaboration to stop the abuse of children.
“Sadly there is an appetite for child abuse material online which leads to vulnerable children becoming pawns in a form of abuse that can have devastating impacts” he said.
“The arrest and rescue sends a strong message that, if you are taking part in this vile industry, law enforcement will find you.”
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said child exploitation would not be tolerated.
“This is another example of our agencies and investigators working closely with their international counterparts to stop these abhorrent crimes and protect children at home and abroad,” he said.
The AFP has not ruled out further arrests.
Anyone who has information about people involved in child abuse material are urged to report their suspicions through the ‘Report Child Abuse’ link of the AFP website, via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.