An Indian student arrested at Perth airport earlier this week for importing child pornography will be deported from Australia after he has served his jail term.
Twenty-one-year-old Sajan Arora appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one count of importation of a prohibited import under the Customs Act.
The Indian student was arrested at Perth airport after Australian Border Force Officers found child exploitation material on his mobile phone during a search soon after he arrived from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
The ABF said they found nine videos and six photographs that depicted “a range of sexual activity” involving children.
Officers seized Arora’s phone and his visa was immediately cancelled.
On Thursday afternoon, Magistrate Stephen Wilson sentenced Arora to eight months imprisonment. He will be released in four months after he entered a $5,000 good behaviour bond, on the condition of good behaviour during his time behind bars.
ABF Regional Commander for Western Australia, Rod O’Donnell, said he was concerned about the number of foreign visitors to Australia found to be in possession of child exploitation material.
“ABF officers are highly skilled at identifying people at our airports who are attempting to carry this abhorrent material across the border” Commander O’Donnell said.
“Unfortunately we are seeing too many cases where travellers have this material on their phones and other devices. Visitors need to be aware that possession of child exploitation material is viewed very seriously under Australian law.
“Tackling child exploitation 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.”
The maximum penalty for the importation of child exploitation material is 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $525,000.
