On Tuesday, news broke that Australian author Craig Silvey had been charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material between the 7th and 9th of January.
The bestselling author of Jasper Jones and Runt faced Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he was granted bail with conditions, plus a $100,000 personal undertaking and a $100,000 surety.
Here’s everything you need to know about the allegations against Craig Silvey:
Who is Craig Silvey?
Craig Silvey is the 44-year-old author of the bestselling novels Jasper Jones, Honeybee, Runt, and Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping.
He has been shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award and has been named one of the Best Young Australian Novelists by the Sydney Morning Herald twice.
Jasper Jones has been adapted into a movie starring Toni Colette and Hugo Weaving.
Silvey lives in Fremantle, Perth, with his wife and their three children.
What was Craig Silvey charged with?
On Monday, police executed a search warrant at Silvey’s Fremantle home in Perth after he was caught engaging with child exploitation offenders online.
“He was immediately arrested and his electronic devices were seized,” a Western Australian police spokesman told media at the time.
Was Craig Silvey granted bail?
On Tuesday, the Honeybee author faced Fremantle Magistrates Court.
He didn’t enter a plea and he was granted bail with conditions, plus a $100,000 personal undertaking and a $100,000 surety.
Silvey will face the Fremantle Magistrates Court again on February 10.
What have Craig Silvey’s publishers said?
Fremantle Press have released a statement announcing that they have stopped promoting the author’s book Rhubarb while the court process takes place.
“The alleged offences are shocking and abhorrent,” the publisher said in the statement. “In a tight-knit community, this news affects our authors, industry colleagues, bookstores, schools and readers.”
“Fremantle Press is available to its creatives for support via the usual contacts,” they continued.
“We acknowledge the presumption of innocence and the importance of procedural fairness and will make no further comment until legal proceedings are complete.”
Allen & Unwin, the publisher of Silvey’s latest book Runt, have also paused promotional activity around his books.
“Given the gravity of the charges, Allen & Unwin will pause promotion activity of Mr Silvey’s work while the legal process takes its course,” the company said.
“We acknowledge this is an active police matter, and that Mr Silvey is entitled to procedural fairness and a presumption of innocence until the matter is dealt with by a court.”
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