Critically acclaimed Australian author Craig Silvey has been charged with distributing child exploitation material
The 43-year-old was allegedly found “actively engaging with other child exploitation offenders online” when detectives raided his home in Fremantle, Perth on Monday.
“He was immediately arrested, and his electronic devices were seized,” WA Police said.
Silvey, the author behind Runt, Honeybee and Jasper Jones, has novels featured in school curriculums, with WA’s Education Minister Sabine Winton requesting the department to pause that while the allegations are under investigation.
The father of three appeared in Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday and charged with possession of child exploitation material, and distribution of exploitation material.
The court has been told that he refused to hand over passcodes to his devices.
No pleas were entered and Silvey was granted bail with conditions, as well as a $100,000 personal undertaking and a $100,000 surety.
He is scheduled to appear in the same court next month, as the investigation continues.
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