Alexander Chapuis, 42, was granted bail on Thursday. Photo: Albert McKnight.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to allegations of child abuse.
An interstate tip-off has resulted in Canberra police arresting a local man on allegations he sent and possessed child abuse material.
An ACT Policing spokesperson said their officers received a referral from the Queensland Police Service earlier this month regarding an Internet account that was allegedly responsible for the sharing of child abuse imagery.
The spokesperson said the ACT Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team began an investigation and then went to a home in southern Canberra on Wednesday (28 January).
“A search warrant was executed and electronic devices were seized during the warrant,” they said.
Alexander Chapuis was arrested following the search and then faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (29 January).
The 42-year-old was charged with possessing child abuse material and transmitting child abuse material.
The court heard he was alleged to have transmitted this material over a carriage service on 2 December 2025 and was alleged to have kept the material on a computer.
The prosecutor did not oppose bail and Mr Chapuis’s lawyer, Peter Woodhouse of CODA Criminal Law, said they had agreed on conditions for his release.
Mr Woodhouse said the conditions included restrictions on his client’s use of the Internet, as well as a requirement for him to surrender his passports.
Magistrate Amy Begley formally charged Mr Chapuis, granted him bail and adjourned the matter to 26 March.
He did not enter pleas and is excused from appearing in person on the next occasion if he is legally represented.
The police spokesperson said anyone with information about persons accessing, sharing or creating child exploitation material should contact Crime Stoppers.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.
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