Four commit suicide as child porn probe widens
By Sharon Mathieson
Sunday, 3 October 2004
FOUR men committed suicide after being investigated for possessing child pornography, the Government confirmed yesterday, as it warned more arrests would be made this week.
A former Queensland policeman, a Victorian prison officer, another Victorian man and a West Australian electrician were all found dead after being interviewed by police over child pornography allegations.
Justice Minister Chris Ellison described the deaths as regrettable but vowed they would not deter Australia's biggest crackdown on child porn.
"It's regrettable that four people, the subject of charges, have taken their own lives," he said.
"But this investigation is an extremely important one in dealing with criminal activity which deals with the violation of innocent children.
"This will not deter, in any way, the investigation."
Senator Ellison said as many as 700 people were being investigated by police in relation to child pornography allegations and predicted up to 500 could be charged.
More arrests would be made this week and anyone convicted of on-line child pornography faced up to 10 years' jail, while someone found stalking a child on the Internet could be jailed for up to 15 years.
"This is an extensive operation which will be ongoing for some time, even some months," Senator Ellison said. "It is expected that there could be some further arrests this week in relation to this operation."
More than 200 people have already been charged after raids on users of Internet child porn web sites in the former Soviet republic of Belarus.
Queensland Police confirmed an officer committed suicide on September3, during the first phase of Operation Auxin, the name given to the nation-wide crackdown.
Victorian police said two men had been found dead after being interviewed about child pornography, one in relation to the nation-wide operation and another over a separate investigation.
Police said they were not treating the deaths, which would be investigated by the coroner, as suspicious.
"Victoria Police can confirm that two men have died after being the subject of separate police inquiries," a police spokeswoman said.
"Neither man had been formally charged with any offences." A spokesman for the Correctional Services Commissioner confirmed one of the dead men was a prison officer at the Fulham Correctional Centre, near Sale, in the state's east.
He was found dead in his car at nearby Stratford on Friday.
The body of a Melbourne man was reportedly found near Heyfield, 30km from Stratford.
West Australian electrician Kim Della-Vedova, 46, of Australind in the state's south-west, was found dead at his house on Friday.
His body was discovered by a friend after he failed to appear at the Bunbury Court of Petty Sessions on three charges of possessing child pornography.
"I can understand the pressure that these individuals are under but the victims that we're dealing with here are innocent children and this is a very serious matter," Senator Ellison said.
"There will be further arrests and of course those who are convicted could face periods of imprisonment."
Four commit suicide as child porn probe widens
by BLISSISIGNORANCE 6 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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BLISSISIGNORANCE
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BLISSISIGNORANCE
Not sure what happened with my post.......mmmmmmmm!
Anyhow, the good news is that obviously there has been alot of work done to get these creeps and it's just the tip of the ice-berg. I hope that 'whoever' they are, they find them all.
Pedos............you can run but seems you can't hide, forever! No matter WHO or WHAT you are!
Hooray and cheers, Bliss
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czarofmischief
Wow. I wonder if it was suicide, or suicide by falling down the stairs to the cell...
CZAR of the "kill 'em all" klass...
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fairy
one of those that committed suicide was from the town i live in......scary
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stillconcerned
Cowards...
Didn't wanna face the music.
kdn
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Doubtfully Yours
I must admit that I really enjoy it so much when I hear that crooks take their own lives.
Here in the US is very expensive to prosecute them and then to keep them healthy and fed in jail.
4 less scumbags in the world. Hurray!
DY
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seeitallclearlynow
Senator Ellison said as many as 700 people were being investigated by police in relation to child pornography allegations and predicted up to 500 could be charged.
That's great news, Bliss. Thanks for posting. Keep us updated! Sounds good.