Paedophile jailed for 40 years in the US demands transfer to Australia

An Australian paedophile jailed for 40 years in Texas for sexually abusing children at a summer camp is requesting to be transferred back to Western Australia.

Scott Zirus was jailed in the US in 2010 after accepting a plea deal that resulted in him being sentenced to at least 20 years behind bars before parole for allegedly assaulting three boys while working at a camp in Texas. 

Zirus, who was in the US on an exchange program to work at the camp, has now applied to Australia’s n Attorney-General’s Department and US authorities for an international prison transfer.

He claims the main reason is so he can face 10 criminal charges in Western Australia over allegations he molested four boys at camps he ran in the state between 2006 and 2008.

‘Not only does the passage of time hinder my defence, but it is extremely unfair on the children and their families to wait so long for any type of closure on the matter,’ Zirus wrote in his application for transfer. 

Child welfare campaigner Hetty Johnston told the West Australian: ‘This would be all about him… he just doesn’t like where he is and I think that’s fabulous’.

‘Once he’s finished his sentence there, then extradite him back to Australia to face the charges here.’

Australian authorities have not confirmed whether they are considering the request.

He claims the main reason is so that he can face 10 criminal charges in Western Australia over allegations he molested four boys at camps he ran in the State between 2006 and 2008 (file picture)