Singaporean student charged for importing child-like sex doll in Australia
SINGAPORE — A 26-year-old Singaporean student has been charged for importing a child-like sex doll in Australia following his arrest in Perth on Thursday (9 January).
The student, whose name was not released, was charged with one count of importing tier 2 goods, under section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 of Australia.
The man has been granted conditional bail and is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on 17 January.
If convicted of importing child abuse material, he faces up to 10 years’ jail and/or a fine of up to AU$525,000 (S$487,000).
The Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a press release that investigations commenced against the man on Christmas Eve last year after ABF officers intercepted a parcel sent from China at a Perth air cargo depot.
The parcel was scanned and allegedly found to contain a a silicon female child-like sex doll.
The man was arrested after a Perth residence was searched.
Possessing child-like sex dolls was criminalised last year under Australian law after the Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Act 2019 came into effect on 21 September. Those found guilty of possessing child-like sex dolls face up to 15 years’ jail.
The ABF’s Investigations Acting Commander Nicholas Walker said its officers were seizing increasing numbers of child-like sex dolls being imported through the international mail and air cargo streams.
“Child-like sex dolls are an emerging form of child abuse material that the ABF is determined to prevent from crossing our border,” said Acting Commander Walker in the release.
“Dolls that are manufactured for a sexual purpose that depict a child under the age of 18 are classified as ‘objectionable goods’ and are prohibited from being imported into Australia.
“Tackling child abuse material is an operational priority for the ABF as part of its role in protecting the border from individuals who may pose a threat to the community,” he added.
Yahoo News Singapore has reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Australian authorities for more details on the case.
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