Move FM Regional news

Editor’s note: Footage of the arrest in the Philippines can be found on Hightail.

A 63-year-old Sydney man has been jailed for 4 years and 9 months for livestreaming the sexual abuse of a child in the Philippines.

The North Rocks man was arrested in September 2019 following an Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation, codenamed Operation Culgoa, into an Australian internet user who was uploading child abuse material to social media.

Investigators suspected the victim and further offenders were residing in the Philippines and requested assistance from the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC). The subsequent joint investigation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the International Justice Mission (IJM) resulted in the arrest of a 39-year-old woman and the rescue of a 12-year-old girl. Further information about the arrests can be found on the AFP website.

Police successfully alleged in court the man was communicating with and paying the 39-year-old woman to livestream the sexual abuse of the 12-year-old girl.

The man was convicted of the following offences before the Parramatta Local Court:

Procuring a child for sexual activity outside of Australia, contrary to section 272.14 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); Using a carriage service to solicit child pornography, contrary to section 474.19 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); Possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW); Aggravated offence of using a carriage service for child pornography, contrary to section 474.24A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); Two counts of using a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child, contrary to section 474.25A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); Using a carriage service to access child pornography, contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)

He was given a non-parole period of 2 years and 9 months.

AFP First Constable Khali Sherer said that this outcome is a reminder to Australians that online actions have serious long-term consequences offline, both for offenders and victims.

“I hope that this sentencing makes other Australians consider the consequences of their actions online,” Constable Sherer said.

“If you are livestreaming the sexual abuse of children, you are complicit in the sexual abuse of children and the lifelong harm it causes – it’s as simple as that. But you are not anonymous and you will be caught.”

“This investigation shows yet again that Australian authorities and our international counterparts won’t tolerate the sexual abuse of children, no matter where they live.”

The Philippine National Police Chief of the Women and Children’s Protection Centre, General Alessandro Abella said this outcome demonstrates the close cooperation between the Philippine National Police, the Australian Federal Police International Command Philippines, and our domestic and international partners to detect and disrupt child sex offenders, here in the Philippines and abroad, and protect our children.

“The multi-agency collaborative effort under the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre further highlights the commitment from all our agencies to join forces to combat sexual exploitation of children.” General Abella said.

“This should send a strong message to those offenders considering targeting and exploiting children in the Philippines, including online, you will be detected and you will be prosecuted regardless of your location.”

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in the possession or sharing of child exploitation material are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button.

If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available, visit to learn more www.accce.gov.au/support

Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protection children online can be found at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation: www.thinkuknow.org.au

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Note to media:

Use of term ‘CHILD ABUSE’ MATERIAL NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’

The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.

Use of the phrase “child pornography” is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:

indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and conjures images of children posing in ‘provocative’ positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.

Media enquiries

AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297