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IN PHOTO: Six-year-old twins Allison (L) and Carolyn Monhagan of Hopkinton, Massachusetts protest against Boston's Roman Catholic Cardinal Bernard Law outside Boston's Cathedral of the Holy Cross April 28, 2002 as the Cardinal says a mass of healing inside. Law appears to be holding firm in his resolve not to resign despite continued calls for his resignation over his handling of pedophile priests during the ongoing clergy child sex abuse scandal in the church. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has been given new powers to execute mandatory deportation for David Volmer, a Christian priest who is a part of an eight-man paedophile ring in the country. Volmer, a native of South Africa, pleaded guilty to 12 offences including indecently dealing with a child, stupefying in order to commit an indictable offence and sexual penetration of a child.

The 41-year-old father of two was in Australia on a work visa. According to police, the Christian priest was one of the eight men who allegedly molested and raped a 13-year-old girl several times over the past couple of years. Western Australia Police described the alleged crime as “bizarre and really disturbing.”

The WA Child Protection Department is taking care of the victim. WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said that a number of public had raised concerns about the teenage girl’s well-being.

“It's important people understand what their children are doing online as well because there are cyber predators out there that will groom children online or even try to meet them,” ABC News quoted O'Callaghan, “This is a terrible case but it is a reminder there are people out there who will prey on our children.” He added that people should be vigilant about their online activities.

The victim’s father allegedly facilitated the abuse as he arranged for the other men to meet his daughter at a number of locations. One of the suspects had four million child pornography photographs and 200,000 videos. Some of the photographs belong to the victim.

Volmer became the state director of the Prison Fellowship Program after moving to Perth in 2012. The non-profit body was formed to “share the love of Jesus to prisoners, their families and victims of crime.” The Australian reported that Volmer was not an Australian citizen. National chairman Michael Wood said that he had come to Australia on a work visa.

Church leader Reverend Peter de Fin said that the charges had shocked him. He said that it was the first time they had to deal with such a case. He added they were not happy to find out that the church was involved with such an incident.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au

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