Accused Paedophile's Charity Links Under Investigation

Police in Australia and Cambodia are jointly investigating the network and charity links of Mark Dennis, an accused paedophile who died after being charged with possessing child abuse material.

Warning: This article contains references to child sexual abuse.

Investigations and Background Briefing can reveal that the Australian Federal Police and Cambodian National Police have an active child protection investigation into people connected with Mr Dennis.

Mr Dennis was chairman of the Australian Cambodian Foundation, which raised funds for Sunrise Cambodia from 2018 to 2020.

He claimed to have visited children in the orphanage in Kandal once or twice yearly since 2008.

A spokesperson for Sunrise said it was not aware of any current investigation, and that it had been advised by police that no current or former child in Sunrise's care had been identified in connection with Mr Dennis's arrest.

Mr Dennis was charged with possessing and transmitting child abuse material after he was arrested at Sydney Airport in January while returning from a trip to Cambodia, where he had visited Sunrise Cambodia in Kandal.

During Mr Dennis's bail hearing the following day, Commonwealth prosecutor Jon Kisch said police found a Dropbox account connected to at least 12 devices.

The prosecutor also alleged Mr Dennis was chatting online with at least two individuals to whom he allegedly expressed sexual interest in children under the age of 18.

"Even though he has died, the investigation is not finished since the people who are involved with him in Cambodia are still alive,"

said Major General Chhuo Chanthan, Cambodian National Police head of Transnational Crime Tream.

The Cambodia Ministry of Interior said the case concerning Mr Dennis was "ongoing and confidential" and that further details could not be provided.

An AFP spokesperson said investigations involving alleged offending in foreign countries were "inherently complex" and the organisation worked with international law enforcement partners to "investigate allegations of serious criminal offending".

"As the matter remains ongoing, no further comment is appropriate at this time,"

the spokesperson said.

Sunrise country director Tracey Shelton said there had been no adverse reports about Mr Dennis during his time as a visitor, donor and director.

"After a period in which they carried out investigations, they advised us that no child in Sunrise's care has been identified in connection with Mr Dennis's arrest,"

said Sunrise Cambodia treasurer Hugh Darwell.

Investigation Continues

The AFP's child protection team retained an officer to work full time on the investigation, codenamed Operation Queenstown, which an officer said involved a "substantial amount of material".

Documents from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions reveal Mr Dennis denied in an interview with police the allegation he possessed child abuse material, but never entered a formal plea.

A fact sheet among the documents revealed Mr Dennis was charged with using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material by sending Whatsapp messages to two accounts between February 2023 and June 2025.

Charity Response

Sunrise was founded by celebrity philanthropist Geraldine Cox in 1993 when she was given land by Cambodia's former prime minister, Hun Sen, and has since supported many disadvantaged children.

There is no suggestion that Ms Cox is personally under investigation or suspected of any wrongdoing.

Sunrise has not published a statement on its website about Mr Dennis's alleged offending.

Another charity he also donated to, Cambodian Children's Fund, publicly cut ties immediately after charges were laid.