In 2025, Australian Federal Police initially apprehended and charged a man after obtaining intelligence linking him to a known child abuse “facilitator” in the Philippines.
The 38-year-old is due to appear in Innisfail court today, now facing over 30 new charges associated with child sexual abuse.
Authorities claim that the individual participated in more than 40 live-streamed sexual performances on social media, involving four minors from the Philippines.
Initially, he faced a single charge of possessing or controlling online child abuse material. However, he is now confronted with 34 additional allegations.
The expanded list of charges includes six counts of persistent sexual abuse of a child abroad, five counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, seven counts of grooming a child for sexual activity outside Australia, and one count of using a communication service to solicit child pornography material.
In a search warrant of the man’s Innisfail home in Far North Queensland, in January 2025, officers found more than 8000 files of child abuse material on electronic devices located at the home.
At the time, they also had received information that the man had allegedly paid to watch children being abused on video.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the arrest comes as the organisation continue to target alleged child sex offenders.
“The AFP works closely with police around the world to combat the exploitation and abuse of children,” Telfer said.
“Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live, and to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts.”
If the man is found guilty, he faces a life sentence.
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