澳洲神父Fuller因向未成年少女視頻表演手淫而被捕

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=849808

Priest facing online sex grooming charge
20:55 AEST Fri Aug 14 2009
2 hours 44 minutes ago
By Andrew Drummond


The Catholic Church says it has not paid a bail surety for a Sydney priest
has suspended over a criminal charge of grooming a child for sex.

Robert MacGregor Fuller, 54, is accused of using a webcam to show himself
masturbating during online chat sessions with a police officer posing as a
13-year-old girl.

A priest at All Saints church at Liverpool, in Sydney's southwest, for some
six years, Fuller was arrested on Thursday afternoon in the car park of
Parramatta pool where it is alleged he planned to meet the teenage girl for
sex.

He was subsequently charged with grooming and procuring a child under the
age of 16 and faced Parramatta Local Court on Friday.

"This is a clear abuse of a position of authority within the church,
particularly as the defendant is in a position of having unvetted access to
(children)," police prosecutor Sergeant Kai Peninkilampi told the court.

Police allege that between July 21 and August 13 Fuller had 13 online chat
sessions with an officer masquerading as a 13-year-old girl.

"During these communications, the accused masturbated on webcamera ... on
other occasions he instructed and encouraged (the girl) to masturbate
herself with her fingers. He also arranged meeting (the girl) for the
purpose of engaging in sexually explicit acts," police facts before the
court said.

Fuller's face was captured by webcam during five of the online conversations
, police said.

In applying for bail, Fuller's solicitor Greg Walsh called evidence from
another Sydney priest who has known the accused for several years.

Father Terry Bell, currently acting in the position of bishop for the
Western Sydney diocese, said Fuller worked hard and had a "very good
reputation in the community", adding he was "shocked" when he heard the
allegations.

Fr Bell offered $25,000 as bail and accommodation at a church-owned property
at Terrigal in support of Fuller's bid to be released on bail.

Dressed in denim jeans and a zip-up tracksuit top, Fuller sat quietly in the
dock of the court during the proceedings.

Mr Walsh said there was no suggestion in the facts that any child "before
this alleged behaviour, has been put at risk or preyed upon by this man".

Labelling the charges as "serious", Magistrate Peter Miszalski granted
Fuller bail, requiring that he report to police three times a week,
surrender his passport, not use the internet, and not be in proximity to
children or attend places such as schools, the movies and sports grounds.

A sum of $25,000 cash was lodged as part of the bail conditions.

The Archdiocese of Sydney released a statement on Friday saying that as part
of its policy priests accused of any criminal offence are "responsible for
their own legal costs".

"The Archdiocese does not contribute to these costs or provide sureties for
bail, and Fr Fuller's case is no exception," the statement said.

"The Archdiocese of Sydney was not a party to the proceedings at the
Parramatta Local Court today, did not have legal representatives in
attendance, and has not seen a copy of Fr Fuller's bail conditions."

It said Fuller's legal representatives had advised Archdiocese lawyers that
Fr Terry Bell, a family friend and parish priest of Fairfield, had provided
the surety for Fuller.

"The Archdiocese understands that Fr Bell has taken out a personal loan to
pay Fr Fuller's bail personally."

It said the Archdiocese would provide "basic care" to Fuller in accordance
with his bail conditions.

It earlier said Fuller was "immediately stood down from his ministry" and
would remain so pending the outcome of the court proceedings.

"This is appalling and distressing news," Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George
Pell said in a statement.

"I share the concern and alarm of parishioners, and particularly of parents
and the school community.

"I can assure them that the safety of children in our parishes and schools
is paramount, and the Archdiocese will co-operate fully with the police in
relation to this and any other investigation into abuse at anytime."

Fuller is due to next appear in the same court on October 8.