A Tasmanian man has been charged by the Australian Federal Police for allegedly accessing around 85,000 online pages of computer-generated animated child abuse material.
The 30-year-old from West Ulverstone had his home searched by the Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team in March, during which electronic devices, including a laptop, mobile phone and USBs allegedly belonging to him, were seized for forensic analysis.
According to the AFP, an examination revealed multiple files containing child abuse material, along with approximately 85,000 online pages of Japanese Hentai.
“Hentai is a style of Japanese pornographic anime and children depicted in sexually explicit imagery is considered child abuse material under Commonwealth legislation,” AFP Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said.
“These images depict very young children engaging in extremely sadistic acts and people who view them may also seek out child abuse material depicting real children.”
“This arrest should serve as yet another serious warning that law enforcement has zero tolerance for child exploitation and child sexual abuse in any form.”
Under Australian legislation, animated or virtual depictions of children performing explicit sexual acts are deemed as child abuse material, Hardcastle said.
The man appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday for the offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.
He was denied bail and is scheduled to reappear in June.
