Sunshine Coast Man Charged with Child Abuse Offences

A Sunshine Coast man is facing court today after being charged by the Australian Federal Police with child abuse offences, including the alleged live online sexual abuse of children overseas.

The 40-year-old will face Caloundra Magistrates Court today.

AFP officers allege he paid for and took part in live online sexual abuse of a child overseas and provided abuse instruction to an adult facilitator located in the Philippines with the child.

He was arrested in April after investigators executed a search warrant at a Caloundra home and seized multiple electronic devices.

The man is charged with one count each of using a carriage service for child abuse material, sexual activity to a child outside Australia, and sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia.

Officers started investigating in February after the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation received a report from the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said they worked closely with local, national, and international partners.

"The AFP is now working closely with our partner agencies overseas to identify the child victims and facilitator and to ensure the child is removed from further harm," Detective Superintendent Telfer said.