Indonesian Student accused of luring Canberra teenager for sex using false Facebook profile
A 22-year-old Indonesian student accused of luring a young man for sex with a fake woman's Facebook profile and then raping him has been refused bail in the ACT Magistrates Court.
Billy Barthomeuz Tamawiyi is studying at the University of Canberra on an Indonesian government scholarship, and is a student in politics and international relations as well as a devout Christian.
Late last month, he allegedly created a fictitious Facebook page under the pseudonym Taylor Edwards and lured an 18-year-old victim to have sex with him.
When they met Tamawiyi is accused of raping the young man and then of threatening him over the phone.
He has been charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, blackmail, using a carriage service for child pornography material and using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.
The court heard that the charges were so shameful for Tamawiyi that he had threatened to kill himself if jailed.
But Magistrate Bernadette Boss refused Tamawiyi bail, and said he was a flight risk who could offend again or harass the victim.
Police told the court Tamawiyi may have many more victims that had not yet been identified.
Detective Superintendent of Criminal Investigations Paul Shakeshaft urged social media users to be cautious when engaging with people they don't know online.
"Fictitious profiles are becoming more prevalent and are used to deceive people in a number of different ways," he said.
"This deception may lead to fraud and identity theft."
Billy Tamawiwy,has been charged with 13 offences in the ACT Magistrates Court.
The prosecution has alleged he set up a false female Facebook profile to lure the teenager for sex.
The court heard allegations that Tamawiwy raped the teenager twice, blackmailed him and sent him child pornography over the internet.
Tamawiwy pleaded guilty to two charges of harassment over the internet but pleaded not guilty to counts of rape, acts of indecency and stalking. He has not entered a plea to some other charges.
Earlier, the court heard Tamawiwy was a devout Christian who had studied politics and international relations in Canberra. Tamawiwy did not apply for bail and the matter was adjourned to November.
