An Indian national arrested at the Perth airport after he was allegedly found to have child pornographic material faces a fine of over half million dollars and ten years in jail, the Australian Border Force said.
A 32-year-old man on a visitor visa arrived on a flight from Kuala Lumpur on Saturday and was stopped for a baggage check before the ABF officers said they found the alleged “child exploitation” and “other abhorrent material”.
The ABF said in a statement that five child pornography videos, two videos containing child abuse and two videos containing “other abhorrent material” were found on two mobile phones carried by the accused. It said all the videos found are banned as ‘objectionable material’ under the Australian law.
The ABF officers seized the man’s phones and his visitor visa was cancelled. He has been charged with importing child pornography and child abuse material and prohibited objectionable material.
The Indian man at the ABF baggage search area at Perth Airport. Source: Supplied/ ABF
During the recent months, a number of people, including international students and visitors have been apprehended with alleged child exploitation material at Australian airports.
ABF Regional Commander for Western Australia, Rod O’Donnell, the force was concerned about the increasing number these incidents.
“Visitors need to be aware that possession of objectionable material is viewed very seriously under Australian law. For instance the maximum penalty for the importation of child exploitation material is 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $525,000, Commander O’Donnell said.
“Tackling child exploitation is an operational priority for the ABF and our officers are highly skilled at identifying people at our airports who are attempting to carry this abhorrent material across the border.
The accused appeared in Perth Magistrate’s court on Sunday and again on Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to both the charges against him. He will be sentenced on Thursday.
