A YOUNG man and woman faced the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court yesterday charged with possessing abhorrent material, including images of a child being sexually abused.
The 25-year-old man appeared in court for the first time since he was arrested and charged on February 12 following a child abuse material-related investigation was launched by the South Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team last year.
Central to that investigation was a 19-year-old woman – an associate of the man – who was charged in January with possessing child abuse material and also appeared in the Mount Gambier court yesterday.
The investigation was launched following a tip-off from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a person allegedly uploading a video on social media of a child being sexually abused.
Electronic devices belonging to the male defendant were seized in January as part of the SA JACET investigation and were forensically examined.
The man could face up to five years imprisonment.
In yesterday’s hearing, prosecution requested a charge determination date be set in four week’s time regarding two new files of information, while seeking an extension from Magistrate Teresa Anderson for existing files on record.
The court heard both defendants were serving bail for the two former charges and not for the fresh information.
The matter will return to the court again on July 20.
Speaking ahead of yesterday’s hearing Australian Federal Police investigations Superintendent Gail McClure said the demand for abhorrent content drove the physical exploitation and abuse of children.
“Sexual abuse in any form is disgusting and is not acceptable,” Supt McClure said.
“Anyone who accesses images, videos or other material depicting these horrific crimes is just as complicit as those who produce it.
“Any such offending, be it online or elsewhere, causes real-life and irreparable damage to children.
“The community can rest assured the COVID-19 lockdown has not shifted our focus from coming down hard on those producing, sharing and participating in the sexual abuse of children.”
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
