A man wanted over child sex offences in Slovenia hands himself into police in New South Wales overnight
An alleged sexual predator from Slovenia with a penchant for pokie machines has handed himself in to police in New South Wales overnight.
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An alleged sexual predator from Slovenia with a penchant for pokie machines has handed himself in to police in New South Wales overnight.
Joze Smit was taken into custody and will face a Parramatta Court this morning.
Australian Federal Police officers led the hunt for Mr Smit, who was wanted over child sex offences in his homeland.
Federal agent Whyte said police tracked Smit to a business in Essendon last October after getting a tip that he was a regular visitor to the establishment.
But Smit had told regulars he was moving away from the area just three weeks before the AFP showed up. Since then, police believe Smit, 58, may have visited Highpoint Shopping Centre and Melton.
The businesses he visited in Essendon were in the vicinity of Mount Alexander Rd and Lincoln Rd. “He is known to be a real fan of cheap poker machines, 20c machines and so on,” Mr Whyte said.
“From 11am in the morning almost every day, he would attend his favourite poker machine venue and TAB venue in the Essendon area and was very well known to staff and other patrons.”
An extradition arrest warrant was issued in July 2017 for Smit, who is believed to have been living in Australia since April 2000, when his visa expired.
“It is a historic child sex offence,” Mr Whyte said. “I don’t have a brief of evidence but it is my job to apprehend him and bring him before an Australian court for extradition.
“He is known to work cash jobs throughout hospitality. I do have reports he has also worked in cash jobs in construction and labouring.” Mr Whyte said.
The AFP has also followed up possible sightings of Mr Smit — who has an ex-wife and daughter in Slovenia — in Heidelberg and Kew.
Agent Whyte urged anyone who recognised Smit to get in touch.
“Someone who has deliberately avoided police attention for so long is perhaps not going to come in easily,” he said.
The AFP has released an age-progressed image of Smit, who has, in the past, also used the names Joza Smit and Joseph Smit. Older pictures of him have also been released.
He is about 173cm tall, of stocky build with a fair complexion, balding dark hair and brown eyes.
An AFP spokesman said: “The Australian Federal Police is seeking information on the location of a Slovenian national believed to be in Australia.
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“He is wanted in Slovenia to face charges relating to an alleged child sex offence.
“People who may be friends or relatives of Smit, or have any information on his current whereabouts, are urged to come forward.
Information previously provided to the AFP suggested Mr Smit had planned to work in the mines, possibly in Western Australia or western areas of Queensland or NSW in the past few years.
Any information should be provided immediately to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.