MAN JAILED FOR 6 MONTHS ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND MOVIE PIRACY OFFENCES
27 March, 2009
download as PDFChild pornography found alongside pirated movies at Sydney market
SYDNEY - On 26 March, at Burwood Local Court, Magistrate Pearce convicted 36 year-old Mr Song XIE of Lakemba in Sydney’s south west, of 41 copyright offences and three possession of child pornography offences and sentenced him to a sixmonth jail term to start immediately.
XIE’s conviction follows an anti-piracy operation on 18 May 2008 by New South Wales Police assisted by investigators from the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT). A number of stalls at the Anglo Mall Markets in Campsie were raided resulting in the seizure of over 2,000 pirated movie DVDs as well as DVDs containing child pornography. Later that day, police raided XIE’s private residence in Lakemba where they seized further discs containing child pornography, as well as 1,700 pirated movie DVDs, DVD-R burners and ancillary computer equipment used to manufacture pirated DVDs.
Commenting on the conviction, Neil Gane, Director of Operations for AFACT said: “Movie piracy and other forms of intellectual property theft are serious crimes that damage the Australian economy. Today’s conviction for despicable child pornography crimes confirms a trend linking movie piracy to other crimes; criminals who are stealing movies will also stoop to a wide range of other serious crimes to make a buck. I commend the professionalism and dedication of the Campsie Proactive Crimes Unit. These crimes have no place in our communities and I urge the public to report all such activities to AFACT or the authorities.”
In 2008, state and federal police conducted 51 raids involving movie piracy and seized over 544,000 pirated DVDs. They also seized 488 burners capable of producing 12 million pirated DVDs a year with a potential street value of over $61million. A number of these enforcement actions provided further evidence that movie piracy is linked to other criminal activity affecting local communities.
Members of the public can report movie piracy to AFACT’s own anti-piracy hotline: 1800 251 996
About AFACT
AFACT works closely with industry, government, police and educational institutions to address copyright theft and protect the interests of the film and television industry as well as the interests of Australian movie fans.
AFACT acts on behalf of the 50,000 Australians directly impacted by copyright theft including independent cinemas, video rental stores and film and television producers across the country. AFACT has its own anti-piracy hotline: 1800 251 996.
Contact:
For interviews with Neil Gane, AFACT, contact:
Stephen Jenner: (02) 9997 8011
After hours: 0409 776 196
info@afact.com.au
www.afact.com.au
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