A Channel Nine reporter, Ben McCormack, has been charged with sending indecent images of children after a dramatic day which saw police raid the network’s studios in Sydney for evidence.
McCormack, 42, is a well-known reporter on Nine’s A Current Affair program and has been on air for two decades, first in Brisbane and then in Sydney.
He was arrested in his car early on Thursday morning by detectives from the sex crimes squad and taken to Redfern police station where he was later charged with using a carriage service for child abuse material. Police filmed his arrest and released the video to the media with his face blurred.
“The sex crimes squad’s child exploitation internet unit conducts ongoing investigations into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children online under Strike Force Trawler,” the NSW police said in a statement.
“Strike force detectives commenced an investigation after becoming aware of a matter via the joint anti-child exploitation team, a joint-agency approach to tackling crimes against children. Police will allege in court the man was engaged in sexually explicit conversations about children with an adult male and discussed child pornography.”
The director of news and current affairs for Nine, Darren Wick, earlier told staff the raid on the A Current Affair offices had nothing to do with Nine programs.
“I can confirm that officers from the New South Wales police have been at TCN this morning investigating matters relating to a staff member at A Current Affair,” Wick said in an email.
“It’s a personal matter that does not relate to the program or Nine. We are cooperating with the police. However, we are not in a position to comment any further as this is an ongoing investigation.”
Channel Nine has suspended McCormack. “Ben McCormack ... a 25-year veteran of the Nine Network ... was arrested today and charged by New South Wales Police with using a carriage service for child pornography material,” a spokeswoman said. “And while justice must take its course, given the serious nature of the allegations Nine has taken a strong position and immediately suspended Ben McCormack.”
Police got search warrants for McCormack’s eastern suburbs home and Nine headquarters and seized computers, a mobile phone and electronic storage devices.
McCormack, who describes himself as a lifesaver, pilot and humanist on his Twitter page, was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre local court on Monday, 1 May.
