labor mp faces child porn allegations

Labor MP faces child porn allegations

A SOUTH Australian Labor MP stands charged with child pornography offences after being arrested by police.

The MP, who cannot be named because of automatic suppressions on such offences, was taken into police custody after several laptops were seized from his Adelaide suburban home as the result of a top-secret police probe.

He is charged with one aggravated count of possessing child pornography, a second count of possession of child pornography and two counts of taking steps to obtain child pornography, and has been released on police bail.

He will appear in court on May 20 and police say their investigation is continuing. They say the arrest is the result of ongoing Sexual Crime Investigation Branch operation Decimate, which targets child exploitation on the internet.

Turmoil swept South Australian political circles as details of the incident slowly emerged.

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There were reports of police visiting the MP's office at Parliament House, but this was denied by the presiding officers, who have to give permission for police to enter the building.

Legislative Council President Bob Sneath said he had not been approached by police and Speaker Lyn Breuer said she had not been contacted by police, although she was "certainly concerned about the issue".

Labor and Liberal MPs were in shock tonight and few were prepared to talk about the incident. Many were asking the media for details.

A spokeswoman for Premier Mike Rann, who is in Melbourne, said the Premier had not been informed and had no comment.

A spokeswoman for Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond said she could not comment.

It is understood the MP's home was raided Tuesday afternoon and police spent 24 hours analysing the contents of a computer.

They also went to the MP's office and seized another computer for analysis.

Last night, police returned to the house and said a statement would be made later.

One officer emerged from the house about 7.35pm and went to a police car. He then carried what appeared to be a tape back into the house.

At 7.55pm, two detectives wearing gloves searched a car parked in the driveway.

They examined the boot and under the seats before returning to the house. There were at least four detectives at the scene. Police left the house at 8.10pm carrying several evidence bags containing compact disks and a mobile phone and the house was shut and left in darkness.

People close to the MP said details were "very sketchy" and they did not want to talk about it.

- with Amy Noonan

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/mp-arrested-over-exploitation/story-e6frg12c-1226042476471