A Geelong man suspected of creating an online child exploitation game has been charged and faced court.
An investigation led by Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team resulted in raids of the 31-year-old’s home on August 2, where vehicles, audio-visual equipment and other appliances were seized.
Following the search he was charged with Commonwealth offences of controlling, producing and possessing child abuse material, as well as deal with proceeds of crime.
The man faced Geelong Magistrates’ Court and was bailed to appear again on 5 December.
Police say it’s a Victorian first that an investigation has focused on a locally created platform of this kind where the images are all animated, and they’re working with the eSafety Commissioner to have the game removed from online.
“This is a landmark investigation and one that really highlights the insidious nature of child exploitation and the many forms it can take,” Victoria police commander Paul O’Halloran said.
“For someone to create this kind of platform and treat this crime theme as a game, is completely horrifying especially when that person is essentially in our own backyard.
“While the material on the platform does not involve live children, it has been created to mimic that and this is clearly of great concern to us.”
