The former public servant was denied bail over concerns about the risk to the alleged victim, and to evidence, if the man was released. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
In short:
A former public servant accused of paying a young relative hundreds of dollars to send him indecent images of herself has been denied bail in the ACT Magistrates Court.
The man's lawyers indicated he would plead not guilty to all charges, including committing acts of indecency and producing child exploitation material.
What's next?
The 59-year-old's case will return to the ACT Magistrates Court in May.
A former Canberra public servant has been refused bail after he was charged with child sex offences, including paying a young relative hundreds of dollars to send him indecent images of herself.
Warning: This story contains content that may be distressing for some readers.
The 59-year-old man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is facing eight charges in the ACT Magistrates Court including committing acts of indecency, using a carriage service to transmit child sex abuse material, capturing intimate images without consent, and production of child exploitation material.
The crime came to light after the girl told her teachers what was happening earlier this year, and the matter was reported to police.
Lawyers for the man indicated pleas of not guilty to all charges.
Police allege man offered money for sexual favours
Court documents reveal the man and the girl met overseas when she was 11 years old.
Police allege that when the girl was about 13, the man contacted her on Facebook messenger, first offering her $50 for selfies, and later offering $500-$600 for images of her breast area, in what the man dubbed "deals".
Later, the girl came to Australia, and eventually lived in the same house as the man.
Police allege the man began offering money for sexual favours.
The court heard that before the matter was reported, the girl found a hidden camera in a clock in the bathroom.
Police say when they went to search the home the man admitted he had bought such a clock, but had not opened it.
But police say the clock was found in the house and seized as evidence.
Police allege the man told them he had never had a sexual relationship with the young girl, or asked for sexual favours.
The court documents reveal that when the man was shown messages between the pair, he allegedly said the young person coerced and blackmailed him into committing sexual acts.
Magistrate refuses bail
Magistrate Ian Temby said he was concerned about alleged attempts to interfere with evidence.
"The two issues that really concern me are the obvious attempts by the defendant and his wife to destroy evidence already [and] evidence of a campaign within at least the defendant's wife's family to pressure the victim," Magistrate Temby said.
"She is a vulnerable minor, a girl, still approaching adulthood, but still a minor in a foreign country who does not appear to have the support of her family."
Magistrate Temby told the court it appeared the victim "has been the subject of coercion, controlling behaviour, grooming and blackmail from the defendant through the use of electronic means".
He said he feared if the man was released "those communications will be almost impossible to monitor outside custody".