Former Auckland community board chairman is jailed for over four years for live streaming child sex shows

New Zealand Police, the FBI and Filipino authorities teamed up to bring Martin Lawes to justice.

An Auckland businessman and justice of the peace has been sentenced to four-and-a half years in prison after earlier pleading guilty to charges involving the live streaming of child sex shows.

The 75-year-old, who also formerly served as an Auckland community board chairman, spent around $100,000 over a nine-year period paying suppliers in the Philippines for both adult and child services.

Martin Henry Lawes told police the amount of money was not significant because he was a multi-millionaire.

He stated he was helping the people involved by giving them money as they were often living in poverty.

Lawes set up two email accounts under fake names to access the sex shows and objectionable material.

Often they would involve children, some as young as 3 years old, undressing and engaging in sexual activity.

He would at times direct them to perform certain acts.

His offending was exposed during an ongoing international investigation.

Lawes resigned as Chairman of the Takapuna Local Community Board in 2010 and has been a Justice of the Peace since 2005.

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