Man Charged After Allegedly Bringing Child-Like Sex Doll Into Australia
The 26 year old Perth man was arrested at the airport on Monday, after returning from holiday in Thailand.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers had already seized his mobile phone when he departed Australia on November 21. They allege it contained several hundred images of child abuse.
The child-like sex doll was discovered when officers intercepted a parcel from Hong Kong, addressed to the man's Perth home, on September 17.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to face court on December 13.
ABF Commander of Investigations Graeme Grosse said tackling child abuse material is a priority.
“Child-like sex dolls are an emerging form of child abuse material that the ABF is determined to prevent from crossing our border,” Commander Grosse said.
“These offences are viewed very seriously, with the maximum penalty for the import or export of child abuse material being 10 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $525,000.”
In September, the Federal Government strengthened laws dealing with sex dolls, including introducing a new offence for possessing a sex doll or using the internet to buy and sell them.
Feature image: Australian Border Force