WA man pleads guilty to importing images depicting child abuse in form of Japanese animation at Perth Airport

A man found with images depicting child abuse in the form of Japanese animation at Perth International Airport has escaped jail. The 37-year-old, who pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court earlier this month, was entering Australia from Japan in February when airport officials selected him for a baggage examination. They found in a hidden phone picture folder 274 anime images depicting child abuse and one image of a real child in an abusive situation with a 37-year-old male offender. The court heard the images were kept private because the mobile was a work phone and not to get through Australian Customs. The man had been invited to an anime convention in Japan and had saved some of the artists’ work - considered legal in Japan but illegal in Australia - and inadvertently imported it. Magistrate William Yoo said the man, who was charged with importing tier 2 goods that were prohibited without obtaining approval, pleaded guilty at the first reasonable opportunity. Mr Yoo noted that he had co-operated with authorities, including with those on the day at the airport, acknowledging to them that the phone may contain objectionable material, and later being disgusted to learn a real child had been exploited. Other mitigating circumstances to reduce his sentence included his contrition and his being a law-abiding citizen running a successful business. Mr Yoo sentenced him to five months jail. But he was released on a recognisance order of $2000 to be in place for five months.