Hornsby man charged with child abuse offences following AFP investigation
A tip-off from US law enforcement agencies has led to the arrest of a man from Sydney’s north, who police allege used Facebook Messenger to upload child abuse material.
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A man alleged to have uploaded child abuse material to Facebook Messenger has been arrested following a tip-off from the United States.
The 65-year-old man was arrested by Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers following a three-month investigation launched following a report from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an online user uploading child abuse material online.
Investigators from the AFP linked the Hornsby man to the illegal online activity and executed a search warrant of his home on Thursday.
During the search, police allegedly found child abuse material on a number of electronic devices and the Facebook account used to transmit the child abuse material.
A mobile phone and laptop were seized for forensic examination.
The man has been charged with two counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, and one count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material.
Each of these offences carry a maximum penalty of 15 years jail.
AFP Senior Constable Brendan Hayler said the charges demonstrated the AFP’s commitment to investigate and charge offenders believed to be involved in child exploitation and sexual abuse.
“This arrest should serve as a warning that law enforcement is dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court,” he said.
“Our investigators are relentless in their pursuit of anyone sharing or accessing child abuse material.
“But we will always need the community’s help to ensure we are effective in identifying victims and perpetrators.”
The man is expected to appear at Hornsby Local Court on Monday.
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