NEWS

Police forces across six Asian jurisdictions, including Singapore, have arrested 435 individuals – among them, 21 men in Singapore – for their suspected involvement in online child sexual abuse material.

The operation, spanning from February 24 to March 28, was conducted by police forces from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, and saw the successful coordination of multiple agencies. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced on Friday, April 4, that an additional 109 individuals are assisting with investigations, bringing the total number of targets to 525 individuals (including 19 women), aged between 13 and 68.

This five-week cross-border operation involved raids across 269 locations in these six countries, where law enforcement officers from Singapore’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) worked in close collaboration with international counterparts. The operation was made more effective with the integration of CRC technology, which aided in the identification and arrest of suspects.

Throughout the operation, significant seizures were made, including 84 computers, 279 mobile phones, 32 tablets, 150 storage devices, and 9 routers.

In Singapore, the 21 arrested men – aged between 23 and 61 – face charges for various offenses.

Preliminary investigations revealed disturbing details, such as a 43-year-old man allegedly paying a young female victim for several years in exchange for her live-streamed sexual acts. In another case, a 24-year-old man allegedly engaged in sexual communication with a young female victim, exchanging intimate photographs. The man is also said to have threatened to publish these photographs online if the victim did not provide more intimate content.

Both victims are non-Singaporean nationals residing overseas, and investigations are ongoing.

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