ABF officers stopped the man for a baggage examination after he arrived on a flight from Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

During the examination of his mobile phone, the officers allegedly found material which included a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child, a statement by ABF said.

The officers seized the phone and cancelled the Malaysian’s visa.

The man was charged in the Perth Magistrate’s Court yesterday with one count of importing a prohibited item under the Customs Act 1901.

The acting ABF Regional Commander for Western Australia, Emma Newman, said the force was committed to doing all it could to prevent the importation of abhorrent material into Australia.

“Visitors should be aware that possession of child exploitation material is viewed very seriously under Australian law.

“The maximum penalty for the importation of child exploitation material is 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to A$525,000 (RM1.52 million).

“Tackling child exploitation is an operational priority for the ABF as part of its role in protecting the border from individuals who may pose a threat to the community,” she said.