Off-duty officer charged with possessing child pornography

An off-duty police officer has been charged with possessing child pornography and will appear in court on Friday.

Officers from the cyber security and technology crime bureau arrested the 38-year-old local man in Sheung Shui on July 16 last year on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material. An investigation revealed he had downloaded and stored the material on his mobile phone.

Following further investigation and legal advice, the man has been charged with one count of "possession of child pornography." His case will be heard at Fanling Magistrates' Courts on Friday (February 13).

The officer, who was off duty at the time of his arrest, has been suspended. Police said the force attaches great importance to personnel conduct and will not tolerate or condone any illegal acts by its members.