The Australian Border Force (ABF) has charged an Indian man after child exploitation material was found on his mobile devices while checking his baggage at the Melbourne International Airport.
This is the second instance this week, where an Indian national has been found in possession of child exploitation material and has been charged by the Australian Border Force.
The ABF officers stopped the Indian student for a baggage examination after he arrived on board a flight from New Delhi holding a Student visa on December 27th 2018.
During the examination, child exploitation material was located on the man’s mobile phone, and further images were located on his laptop computer, deemed to contravene the Customs Prohibited Import Regulations.
Officers seized his phone and computer and subsequently cancelled his visa.
The man was detained and transferred to Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation.
Source: Australian Border Force
On Thursday, the man was charged in relation to offences under s233BAB(5) of the Customs Act.
ABF Regional Commander for Victoria, Craig Palmer, said ABF officers remained committed to preventing the importation of this kind of abhorrent material across our borders.
“We want to send a clear message to people attempting to bring this type of material into Australia. Visitors need to be aware that we are constantly on the lookout for those possessing this sort of terrible imagery involving child exploitation,” Regional Commander Palmer said.
“Content depicting extreme sexual deviancy and acts of horrific violence are not acceptable in our community and anyone caught engaging in this behaviour risks forfeiting their right to be here, and will face the full force of the law.
“Our officers do an excellent job every day to protect the community from this type of harm,” Regional Commander Palmer said.
Second instance this week
A 32-year-old Indian national was arrested and charged after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Perth Airport allegedly found him in possession of numerous videos containing child exploitation material, child abuse and other abhorrent material.
ABF officers stopped the man for a baggage examination after he arrived on a flight from Kuala Lumpur on Saturday 26 January 2019.
A 32-year-old Indian national has been arrested at the Perth Airport for allegedly carrying banned "objectionable material". Source: Supplied/ ABF
During the examination of two mobile phones belonging to the man ABF officers allegedly found five videos containing child exploitation material, two videos containing child abuse and two videos containing other abhorrent material – all banned as ‘Objectionable Material’ under Australian law.
Officers seized the phones and cancelled the man’s visitor’s visa.
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The 32-year-old pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court and was fined $500 and sentenced to seven months in prison but will only have to serve two months behind bars.
He will be deported after his jail sentence.
