Media release

JACET Charges – Child sex offences – Marrakai

Police

Detectives from the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) arrested and charged a 49-year-old man in Marrakai on Wednesday for a number of child sex offences.

Police allege that between December 2020 and July 2021, the man engaged in indecent messaging with online covert operatives posing as a 14-year-old girl. 

On 14 July 2021, the JACET executed a search warrant at the man’s residence. His personal mobile phone was seized.

The man has been charged with the following Commonwealth and Northern Territory offences:

  • Use carriage service to procure child under 16 (Cth)
  • Use carriage service to transmit indecent communication (Cth)
  • Use carriage service to solicit child abuse material (Cth)
  • Fail to comply with reporting conditions (NT)

He was remanded to appear before Darwin Local Court today.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lawson said, “The Northern Territory JACET will continue to work closely with our interstate counterparts to ensure the safety of all children.”

AFP Detective Superintendent Child Protection Operations Paula Hudson said, “This arrest demonstrates the importance of law enforcement working together to protect Australian children from those who would seek to exploit them online.”