Australian man charged with child abuse

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Australian man charged with child abuse

A Sunshine Coast man will be charged with possession of child abuse material by the federal police.

The 43-year-old Birtinya man is expected to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

The investigation began in May when the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploiting Children about an online user uploading child abuse material using Yahoo and Google accounts.

The FBI has allegedly linked the Birtinya man to the associated accounts.

A search warrant was executed on May 18, with investigators seizing a laptop, mobile phone, USB and printed images.

The digital devices will now be subject to further forensic examination.

The man was charged with using a carriage service to transmit child pornography material and possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage.

The maximum penalty for these crimes is 15 years' imprisonment.