It’s now been revealed that the arrest of a suspected child rapist in Western Australia is linked to the shock charges against A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack.
Through the arrest, the WA police gained access to phone records, computer files and websites, exposing a nationwide paedophile ring whose members allegedly include school teachers and the Sydney-based Channel 9 reporter, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The West Australian investigation began in February when the alleged rapist was arrested and charged with 35 offences.
McCormack, 42, was arrested in Sydney on April 6, after raids of his workplace and home. He has been charged with two counts of using a carriage service for child pornography material.
The senior journalist was released on bail and later admitted to a private hospital for mental health treatment.
His lawyer, Sam Macedone, is saying the charges against McCormack have “nothing to do with the usual child pornography”.
“None of the charges that have been levelled against him involves pictures or explicit details of young kids,” he said.
“It’s got nothing to do with the usual child pornography where you’ve got young children being photographed or in a video or anything like that. It’s nothing more than a discussion and that’s all there is.”
The case is scheduled to return to court on July 4, where the charges carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail.
