CANBERRA, ACT, April 17 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:

Media and members of the public are reminded of current non-publication orders in place relating to this matter.

The AFP is working to identify children captured in alleged child abuse material, which was located on the devices owned by a Sydney man.

The man has been in custody since being charged by the AFP in July, 2025, and reappeared in Parramatta Local Court today (17 April, 2026) to face a further 129 child abuse-related offences.

Operation Moonbi began in June, 2025 when the AFP received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an online user uploading a file depicting child abuse.

The AFP linked the man to the alleged illegal online activity, and executed a search warrant at a home on 20 June, 2025, seizing electronic devices for forensic analysis.

The AFP will allege initial examinations of the man's devices identified child abuse material.

He was charged with eight counts of online child abuse material offences on 10 July, 2025.

The AFP will allege further forensic analysis of the man's devices identified a large volume of child abuse material. This has led to the further charges being laid in court today.

AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said investigators were relentlessly reviewing the seized imagery to establish the scale of offending and identify victims.

"We know matters like this are a parent's worst nightmare, and we have investigators and digital forensic experts working around the clock to methodically review 2.4 million electronic files," Det Supt Luke Needham said.

"Our priority is to analyse all available evidence and engage impacted families as soon as possible.

"It is important we compile a complete account of the offending, so the appropriate support is provided for the specific individual circumstances of each impacted family.

"The victim identification process in alleged child abuse matters is a painstaking and detailed process that can take months to carry out, but it is crucial we identify all the victims and capture the evidence in a way that will stand up to the rigours of a criminal trial.

"The review of seized imagery is in its final stages, and impacted families are expected to be notified in the coming weeks."

The man now faces a total of 137 charges, including:

* 68 counts of production of child abuse material contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);* 29 counts of filming of a person engaged in a private act without consent - aggravated, contrary to section 91K(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);* Three counts of film person's private parts without consent-aggravated, contrary to s91L(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);* 18 counts of using a child under 14 years for the production of child abuse material, contrary to section 91(G)(1)(a) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);* 11 counts of aggravated use of a child under 14 years for the production of child abuse material, contrary to section 91(G)(3)(a) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);* Seven counts of intentionally sexually touch child under 10 years, contrary to s66DA(a) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW); and* One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).

Each of these offences could incur penalties of imprisonment, with the offence of aggravated use of a child under 14 years for the production of child abuse material incurring a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.

AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said the current charges related to alleged offending occurring between 2009 and 2025.

"The AFP is following well-developed and practiced processes to ensure that impacted families receive the support they need, while ensuring that evidence is obtained correctly and in the appropriate format for a successful criminal prosecution," Det Supt Needham said.

"Further information will be provided directly to impacted families as soon as possible, and there will also be a secure victim portal to receive information, updates and access to support resources.

"If a parent or guardian would like to share information with our investigators, they can email us at: op-moonbi@afp.gov.au"

A non-publication order remains in place that prohibits the identification of the man and his previous employment.

Anyone with information relevant to investigations under Operation Moonbi is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information is managed on a confidential basis.

The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.

The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on Triple Zero (000).

If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.

Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit the ACCCE website.

Note to media

Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL not 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'

The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material - the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.

Use of the phrase 'child pornography' is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:

indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and

conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.