Joseph Kolodziej: All Hallows Five Dock priest pleads not guilty

A well-known religious leader in Sydney’s inner west, who lives next to a primary school, is alleged to have been found with child abuse material on his phone, a court has heard.

An inner west priest has denied possessing child abuse material on his phone in a case that has dragged in a serving NSW Police officer and sparked an internal probe.

Father Jozeph “Joseph” Kolodziej, 62, formally pleaded not guilty in Burwood Local Court on Tuesday a month after police charged him with allegedly possessing and transmitting the disturbing content.

It is understood Kolodziej had been stood down from his role at All Hallows Catholic Parish in Five Dock and will not be involved with the neighbouring primary school while his case progresses in court.

Father Joseph Kolodziej, right. Picture: John Feder

Kolodziej had previously been the parish priest of a Georges Hall congregation at St Mary Queen of Heaven until January of this year.

Detectives conducted a raid on a Georges Hall property after they charged Kolodziej and a serving sergeant with the NSW Police.

Professional Standards Command officers had begun investigating in May after learning of allegations that child abuse material was being stored and distributed on an electronic device.

The priest has stood down from his roles at the church in Five Dock.

The phone was seized, examined and a month later Kolodziej was arrested in Five Dock.

He remains on strict conditional bail and his case has been adjourned to be heard again later this year.

The 49-year-old sergeant was arrested at the Georges Hall search and charged with possessing child abuse material.

He remains on strict conditional bail and is currently suspended from the force with pay.