The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

Building a safe, prosperous and respected nation



 

Hefty fine for possessing sexual abuse images


2/02/2006


Overseas intelligence has led to a Motueka man being fined more than $7000 for possessing pictures of children being sexually abused.

Department of Internal Affairs’ Censorship Compliance Manager, Steve O’Brien, says the case shows that people using their computers to store and view this objectionable material can be tracked down.

In the Nelson District Court (on Feb 1) the defendant, 47, self-employed, changed his plea to guilty after evidence from a Department of Internal Affairs Inspector and cross-examination of himself. Judge David McKegg fined the defendant a total of $5000 plus costs of $2300 on 10 representative charges involving possessing objectionable publications.

Mr O’Brien said an overseas organisation alerted a DIA inspector to the defendant, who was sharing images on the Internet. He was tracked down, via an Internet Service Provider.

Media contact:
Steve O’Brien National Manager Censorship Compliance,
Phone: 04 495 9371, Cell: 027 220 5899
Trevor Henry, Communications Adviser, Phone: 04 495 721, Cell: 021 843 679