US tip-off leads to Launceston child abuse material find
A Tasmanian man was due to appear before a Launceston magistrate on Wednesday afternoon after a police search uncovered a cache of child abuse material inside his home.
A Tasmanian man was due to appear before a Launceston magistrate on Wednesday afternoon after a search by state and federal police allegedly uncovered a cache of child abuse material on multiple electronic devices inside his home.
Following an investigation which began after Australian police received information from US authorities about an online user uploading child abuse material, AFP officers allegedly linked the Tasmanian man, 49, to the illegal online activity.
On Wednesday, federal and state officers from the Tasmanian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team executed a search warrant on the man’s South Launceston address, where they allegedly found abuse images and videos on mobile phones and laptops.
After the devices were seized for further forensic examination, the man was charged with one count of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.
Sergeant Nick Gibson said the AFP and its partners were committed to protecting children from online predators.
“Children are some of the community’s most vulnerable members and deserve to feel safe,” Sgt Gibson said.
“Investigators are fiercely driven to identify anyone who downloads, accesses or shares any form of child abuse material and place them before the court.”
Originally published as US tip-off leads to Launceston child abuse material find
