MELBOURNE: A man in Brisbane was hauled into court after allowing his 13-year-old son to visit a prostitute during a family holiday to Thailand in the first case of its kind. The 45-year-old father, who cannot be named, appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday on two charges related to child sex tourism offences. The offences allegedly took place on the Thai resort island of Ko Samui last September. The charges, which carry penalties of up to 20 years in jail, related to the Australian laws designed to stop Australian pedophiles preying on foreign children. This is believed to be the first time the laws have been used in such a way, the Courier-Mail reports. The charges allege that the father caused a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual intercourse outside Australia and that he procured a child to engage in sexual activity outside his place of residence. He was also charged with assaulting his son on Brisbane's bayside in February last year. His next court hearing is April 24. - Bernama
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