Arabic version: طبيب من داروين ينتظر قرار المحكمة العليا بشأن الإفراج بكفالة

According to ABC News, a prominent Darwin doctor charged with accessing and possessing child abuse material will remain in custody until at least August 10, when the Northern Territory Supreme Court is due to decide whether he can be released on bail. The man cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The doctor faces a dozen charges related to accessing and possessing child abuse material. Australian Federal Police began investigating after the United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children raised concerns about an internet user in Australia accessing files containing the material. Police arrested the man last week after searching his Darwin home and seizing phones, tablets, hard drives, USB sticks and laptops allegedly containing explicit images and videos.

He appeared from custody in the Supreme Court after Local Court Judge Alan Woodcock denied bail earlier this week. Defence lawyer Brooke Houen said the application did not seek to “sidestep” the seriousness of the allegations and argued there were strong reasons for release. She proposed conditions including no internet access unless with lawyers, electronic monitoring, avoiding childcare centres and surrendering his passport.

Prosecutor Euan Malcolm opposed the application, describing the Crown case as “extremely strong”. He told the court that more than one million files had been retrieved from the devices and that the majority comprised child abuse material. Justice Meredith Huntingford ordered a bail assessment report and cautioned Ms Houen not to read into that decision before the August 10 hearing.