Children’s lives ‘irrecoverably damaged’ as charges laid in international child sexual abuse investigation

Children as young as two years old have had their lives “irrevocably damaged” as authorities warn that more children are at risk.

The lives of children as young as two years old have been “irrevocably damaged”, with six children removed from harm following an international child sexual abuse investigation.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in April this year after a 41-year-old Tasmanian man was arrested for alleged online child abuse offences.

Investigators allegedly found child abuse images and videos and text messages with a person allegedly facilitating the sale of child abuse material on the man’s mobile phone during a search of his Kings Meadows home on March 26.

AFP investigators allegedly found evidence that the facilitator and child victims were based in the Philippines following further digital analysis of the seized phone.

A group of six children, the youngest being just two years old, were removed from harm. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Other children remain at risk. Picture: Australian Federal Police

The Tasmanian man was charged with four counts of using a carriage service for child abuse material and four counts of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to person under 16, with the matter still before the courts.

A second man was also arrested at Melbourne airport on April 11 after child abuse material was found on his phone after travelling from the Philippines.

Evidence of contact offending against child victims offshore was found during a search warrant of the 41-year-old’s home.

The Victorian man was charged with several counts of possessing, soliciting and causing the transmission of child abuse material using a carriage service, one count of grooming a person to engage in sexual activity with a child under 16 outside Australia and one count of engaging in sexual activity with a child outside of Australia.

The man plead guilty to the charges on November 28.

He is set to be sentenced in April 2025.

AFP investigators in Manila found victims were linked to both men after AFP intelligence was given to the Philippine internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC).

Women aged 43 and 23 were arrested and charged with human trafficking and child abuse material offences. Picture: Australian Federal Police.

Search warrants were executed in the Cagayan De Oro region in the southern Philippines on November 14, with two women – aged 43 and 23 – arrested and charged with human trafficking and child abuse material offences, with life imprisonment the maximum penalty for each offence if convicted.

A group of six children – the youngest just two years old – were removed from harm and placed in child welfare services.

AFP Manila liaison officer Detective Sergeant Daisie Beckensall said other children remained at risk.

“These children’s lives have been irrecoverably damaged and we know there are too many other children still at risk,” Sergeant Beckensall said.

“That is why we will never give up our fight to keep children safe and stop those who try to exploit or abuse them.

“The rescues and arrests are a powerful reminder of why the AFP works closely with partners around the globe — to share intelligence and the resources necessary to target anyone who preys on children.”

Philippine National Police Brigadier General Portia B. Manalad said the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Centre and the AFP Manila Post “will continue to exchange intelligence in order to arrest further perpetrators and rescue more children”.