David Nery, a dance teacher who has lived in Canberra since 2019, was selected for examination by Border Force officers on Sunday morning after arriving on a flight from Bali. Officers allegedly found child exploitation material on his mobile phone, leading to his arrest. Police later searched his home and seized further illicit material on electronic devices, including a laptop, iPad, and two cameras. Cloud-based data is still under review.
In court on Monday, Nery faced two counts of possessing child exploitation material. He is yet to enter a plea. Legal Aid duty lawyer Gillian Bilton applied for bail, arguing strict conditions could manage any risk to the community. She noted Nery's lack of prior criminal history, his cooperation with officers at the airport, and his local family ties.
Prosecutor Phillip Hansen opposed bail, raising concerns about Nery's contact with children through his dance teaching role. He argued the proposed conditions did not address the heart of the allegations, pointing to two videos allegedly containing child exploitation material and admissions Nery is said to have made at the airport.
Magistrate Heidi Robinson described the application as difficult, citing the early stage of the investigation and potential risk of evidence interference. However, she found that strict bail conditions could manage the risks and granted bail. As part of his bail, Nery must surrender his passport and report to police.