Cairns crime: Police reveal more child exploitation arrests are likely

Cairns Police have revealed that while one man has been arrested on child exploitation charges, it is “highly likely more arrests will be made” – WATCH THE DRAMATIC ARREST

CAIRNS Police revealed that a man they arrested on Sunday will face child sex charges involving girls aged between 11 and 14 years of age.

On Tuesday, Officer in Charge of the Cairns District Child Protection Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Gooiker, confirmed they have charged a 58-year-old Cairns man Anton Gerard Straatman, with alleged child sex offences as part of Operation Uniform Kalahari.

Det Snr Sgt Gooiker said Operation Uniform Kalahari was established to extensively investigate the alleged grooming and exploitation of at least eight vulnerable young people in the Cairns area between January this year and today.

“Investigations led police to locate and arrest the 58-year-old in the Cairns area on Sunday June 5,” he said.

“He was subsequently charged with 11 counts of supplying drugs to a minor under 16, six counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, two counts each of supply drugs and possess drugs and one count each of grooming, attempt to procure indecent treatment, offence to possess S4 poison and possess drug utensil.

“He has appeared before Cairns Magistrates Court and remanded in custody to reappear on August 3.”

Det Snr Sgt Gooiker said police would allege the girls, who were aged between 11 and 14 were groomed, indecently assaulted and supplied with dangerous drugs including methylamphetamine and cannabis.

He praised the youngster for having “the bravery to come forward to police”.

While he said he could not comment further on the Straatman matter “as it is before the courts”, Det Snr Sgt Gooiker said “it is highly likely there will be other arrests.”

“There’s been a lot of work done by the officers of the CPIU,” he said. .

“Investigations remain ongoing.”

Originally published as Cairns crime: Police reveal more child exploitation arrests are likely