Student fined $10,000 for internet collection

22/11/ 2005

The successful prosecution of a 25-year-old Naenae student for possessing and making available images of adults sexually abusing children simply reinforces the chances of other offenders being caught, Department of Internal Affairs Censorship Compliance Manager, Steve O’Brien said today.

In the Lower Hutt District Court (on Nov 21 2005) Judge Susan Thomas fined the student a total of $10,000 when he pleaded guilty to 18 charges of possessing objectionable publications and five of making them available for gain.

Judge Thomas noted that the victims in the publications were particularly young, there was a high degree of premeditation and planning and the man used wide internet search terms knowing he would receive objectionable material.

Steve O’Brien said he was using a file sharing application called Kazaa and a DIA Inspector of Publications tracked him down through an Internet Service Provider. his computer system, seized under a search warrant, contained more than 900 moving and still image files, 700 of which were objectionable.

“People indulging in this traffic, which is only possible through the abuse of children, must realise that we can find them,” he added. “They may think they are safe in the confines of their own home but they forget they leave an electronic imprint when working the ‘net.”

Media contact:
Steve O’Brien
Deputy Secretary Phone: 04 495 9371
Trevor Henry
Communications Adviser Phone: 04 495 7211, Cell: 021 843 679