AFP officer charged with 17 counts of sexual intercourse with female child

An Australian Federal Police officer has pleaded not guilty to 22 sex offences including 17 counts of sexual intercourse with a female child, grooming and maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person

Defence lawyer Bridie Harders leaves ACT Magistrates Court.

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An Australian Federal Police officer will plead not guilty to 22 alleged sex offences against a female child.

At ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, Magistrate Louise Taylor approved an application to prohibit the publication of the 35-year-old’s name.

The officer, of Palmerston, was charged with 17 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 16, maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person, grooming and two acts of indecency.

He was suspended from duty in June.

He did not appear at court but his lawyer Bridie Harders indicated he would be pleading not guilty to all charges.

Prosecution lawyer Vivian Wei did not oppose the application to suppress the man’s identity after the court heard there were fears the publication of his name could lead to the identity of the victim due to material posted on social media.

But Ms Wei said she may revisit the identification of the man at a later date.

Magistrate Taylor adjourned the matter to September 20 for a pre-hearing mention.

A police spokesman said all AFP members are expected to behave at all times in a manner that upholds the organisation’s core values, reputation and integrity, consistent with community expectations.

“As this matter is before court it would not be appropriate to make any further comment.”