Photo credit: ABF Facebook Page

A Malaysian was arrested and charged upon his arrival in Melbourne, Australia for bringing into the country hundreds of child porn images and videos.

The man arrived at the Melbourne International Airport from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 22.The Australian Border Force ( ABF) said their officers searched the 27-year-old man’s belongings and allegedly found more than 900 child pornography photos and videos on the suspect’s laptop and mobile phone.

ABF said the man was charged with Importing Tier 2 goods, namely Child Exploitation Material, contrary to Section 233BAB (5) of the Customs Act of

1901.

ABF Commander Investigations Mark Antil said in a statement: “Children are harmed by those who manufacture this abhorrent material; and people who consume child exploitation material provide the market that fuels the vile trade.”

Antil added that Australia takes child pornography and exploitation matters very seriously. He shared that through the use of intelligence and targeting techniques, their trained officers actively look for people bringing child exploitation material into Australia.

The authorities decided not to release the man’s identity. He was brought to the Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 23, where he was remanded for a duration of almost 3 months or until June 29.

The maximum penalty for an individual importing or exporting child exploitation material in Australia includes a fine of $182,000, 10 years imprisonment, or both.

The case will be investigated further by the authorities.

A previous report by Sin Chew Daily says Malaysia is the top consumer of online child pornography in Southeast Asia, with as many as 17,333 IP addresses with child pornography coming from said country.

It is not clear whether the suspect with the child porn images and videos brought the banned stuff only for his “personal use” or if he intended to market those to pedophiles in Australia.

Source:

http://www.straitstimes.com/se-asia/malaysian-arrested-in-australia-for-carrying-over-900-child-porn-images-videos