A senior Commonwealth Bank executive has been charged with child exploitation offences after allegedly attempting to lure two underage girls to a Brisbane hotel via a sex worker contact.
Christopher McCann, 50, was arrested on Tuesday by NSW detectives at Sydney Airport. He was extradited to Brisbane, where he appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with one count of using electronic communication to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act.
Police allege McCann befriended a Brisbane-based sex worker and persuaded her to lure two teenage girls to a hotel in May. The meeting allegedly took place, but a vigilant hotel staff member raised concerns, prompting police involvement.
Queensland authorities were first notified after NSW’s Sex Crimes Squad launched Strike Force Coalhurst in March, which led to McCann being identified during a visit to Brisbane. The case was then referred to Queensland’s Taskforce Argos, which focuses on child exploitation.
Following a two-month investigation, a Queensland court issued a warrant for McCann’s arrest, and he was taken into custody on July 9.
Detective Acting Inspector Cameron Burke from Taskforce Argos emphasised the collaborative national effort to combat child exploitation. “Police across Australia work together to protect our most vulnerable citizens. This arrest sends a clear message to offenders: we are watching, we are coordinated, and we will act,” he said.
Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty of NSW’s Sex Crimes Squad highlighted that crossing state borders offers no refuge. “Interstate travel will not protect offenders. This case shows our capabilities go beyond borders,” she said.
McCann’s case returned briefly to court on Thursday and is scheduled for a further hearing on Friday. It remains unclear whether the Commonwealth Bank has taken internal disciplinary action or suspended McCann pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
This case is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by child predators and the critical role of law enforcement collaboration in bringing them to justice.
