Sydney PhD student suspended after 25,000 files of child abuse material allegedly found on his phone

A Sydney PhD student has been suspended after he was allegedly caught with more than 25,000 files of child abuse material on his phone.

A Sydney PhD student allegedly caught with more than 25,000 files of child abuse material has been suspended by his university and will remain behind bars after a court refused him bail.

Police allege the man had marked 42 of the files as “favourites”.

Ali Alghamdi, 35, was arrested at a Randwick university campus at about 3pm on Monday.

A university student was allegedly found with 25,000 files of child abuse material on his phone. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Officers allegedly found more than 25,000 videos and images of child abuse material on his phone.

He was charged with use carriage etc to access child abuse material.

Mr Alghamdi fronted Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.

He was denied bail by the court, with his matter slated for a brief status on September 23.

Mr Alghamdi is a PhD student at the University of New South Wales, with a UNSW spokesperson confirming he has since been suspended.

“UNSW Sydney is aware a PhD student has been arrested and charged,” the spokesperson said.
“The University has immediately suspended the student from campus and their studies, pending further investigations under UNSW procedures.

“As the matter is before the courts it would be inappropriate for UNSW to comment further.”

Mr Alghamdi’s arrest followed an investigation into the online distribution, supply and access of child abuse material by the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad Child Internet Exploitation Unit.

Officers had identified Mr Alghamdi as an alleged suspect.