A 30-year-old Saudi Arabian man has been convicted and sentenced to nine months gaol on Customs child pornography charges.

Mr Abdul Al-Harbi was stopped for questioning by Customs and Border Protection officers at Perth International Airport when he arrived on a flight from the Philippines
on the 8th of October last year.

During baggage examinations officers located eight DVDs containing images of children engaged in sexual activity and one DVD featuring images of non-consensual sex.

The material was found to be in contravention of section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 being goods subject to Regulation 4A of the Customs (Prohibited Import) Regulations 1956.

Mr Al-Harbi was subsequently arrested and charged by Customs and Border Protection investigators with one count of importing child pornography.

Mr Al-Harbi was found guilty of importing prohibited goods contravening S233BAB(5) of the Customs Act and was sentenced on Monday to nine months gaol, to be released after serving four months.

Customs and Border Protection National Manager Investigations, Richard Janeczko, said Australia treats such offences very seriously.

"The importation of material that sexually exploits children or depicts child abuse is a breach of Customs regulations. The children are the real victims here," he said.

"Customs will seize such material, investigate and prosecute where appropriate.

"Those found guilty face very serious penalties, including gaol time," Mr Janeczko said.

Media enquiries:
For further details contact Customs and Border Protection Media (02) 6275 6793

Note to media:

CHILD ABUSE IMAGES - NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'

Use of the phrase 'child pornography' actually benefits child sex abusers:

• it indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
• it conjures up images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

Customs and Border Protection Service recommends that when commenting on the offences committed the term 'child abuse images' is used and not 'child pornography'.

Every photograph captures an actual situation where a child has been abused -
THIS IS NOT PORNOGRAPHY.