Sydney school employee charged after alleged discovery of child abuse material

A school employee has been charged after he was allegedly found with child abuse material on his phone.

A Sydney school employee has been charged after he was allegedly found with child abuse material.

Police allege they found child abuse material on the 28-year-old employee’s phone after it was seized as part of an investigation into reports malware was found on computers at the school.

At least 41 staff members allegedly had their credentials captured, including their credit card details, after the man allegedly deployed malware on school computers.

A Sydney school employee has been charged for allegedly deploying malware on school computers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

It comes after an investigation was launched in February by the State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad — with assistance from the Department of Education — following reports malware was found on the computers.

After speaking with the man at an address in Matraville in March, detectives seized a phone and computer.

Following a forensic examination, child abuse material was allegedly found on the phone.

The material was not linked to the school or any students.

The man was arrested on Tuesday following further inquiries at Maroubra Police Station.

He has been charged with unauthorised modification of data with intent to cause impairment, possess identity information, two counts of unauthorised function with intent serious offence, and possessing child abuse material.

A phone was seized as part of the investigation, and following a forensic examination child abuse material was allegedly found on the phone. Picture: iStock

Detective Superintendent Matt Craft praised the Department of Education for identifying the alleged issue so early.

“The Department of Education cyber team have a robust system able to detect these types of offences, and it’s through their diligent work that this issue was reported early, and the (alleged) offender detained quickly,” he said.

“Teachers and staff at our schools are in a position of responsibility and privilege, and anyone that abuses that position will be dealt with accordingly by law enforcement.”

The accused man has been granted strict conditional bail and is scheduled to face Waverley Local Court on May 8.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Originally published as Sydney school employee charged after alleged discovery of child abuse material