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In addition to an 11-year jail sentence, the Victorian man has been ordered to pay more than $850,000 to the Commonwealth.
A 32-year-old Victorian man has been ordered to pay the Commonwealth more than $850,000 and sentenced to 11 years and nine months behind bars after he created and sold a video game that simulated child exploitation.
The man was sentenced on 1 April and the payment orders were handed down in late March by the County Court of Victoria.
The man was charged following an investigation by the Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team and the payment orders followed an investigation by the AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce.
The AFP and Victorian Police searched the man’s Geelong residence in August 2023 and found more than 140,000 child exploitation game files on several electronic devices, as well as child abuse material involving real children.
“To make a game out of exploiting some of the most vulnerable members of our community is sickening, but knowing any profits have been stripped away and diverted to serving the community is a balm to the wound,” AFP Commander Jason Kennedy said in an 9 April statement.
“It’s a reminder we will not only hold criminals to account, we will also work to remove every shred of benefit they derive from their offending.
“If you think for one second you will keep a solitary cent from exploiting children, think again. The AFP has teams of dedicated experts around the country diligently working and watching. Yours could be the next door we knock on.
“Bottom line – if you engage in illegal activity, we will relentlessly pursue you, your assets and your wealth.”
CACT also obtained a restraining order on the man’s assets at the time of his arrest in 2023, including money from the sale of two cars, multiple high-end televisions, AV equipment, and more than $30,000.
Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Tim McKinney, of the cyber crime division, said that legislation does separate simulated offenses from those against real children.
“For this crime theme to be treated as a game is vile. To profit from this crime theme is utterly abhorrent,” Detective Superintendent McKinney said.
“We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to disrupt criminal activities and remove ill-gotten wealth.”
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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