The Singapore Police Force (SPF), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force HKPF) and the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), have jointly arrested 272 persons in a cross-border operation against online child sexual exploitation.
The arrests were made between February 26 and March 29, and those arrested were aged between 12 and 73 years, according to an SPF media release issued in April.
During the five-week operation, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the seven Land Divisions of the SPF, in collaboration with the HKPF and the KNPA, conducted raids at 236 locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea.
Electronic devices, including 50 computers, 26 laptops, 39 handphones, 6 tablets, 91 storage devices and 1 router, associated with the alleged crimes found at 44 locations in Singapore, were seized.
A total of 28 individuals, aged between 18 and 59 years, were arrested in Singapore for allegedly possessing, gaining access to, and distributing child abuse materials under Sections 377BI and 377BK of the Penal Code 1871; sexual communication with a minor under Section 376EB of the Penal Code 1871; transmission and sale of obscene materials under Section 292(1)(a) of the Penal Code 1871; and investigated for the offence of possession of obscene films under Section 30 of the Films Act 1981.
Among those arrested were a seller and his seven buyers of child abuse materials in Singapore. Another 16 persons, aged between 22 and 70 years, are assisting with police investigations.
Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the men obtained child abuse materials through messaging platforms.
The remaining persons arrested in Hong Kong and South Korea had allegedly committed similar crimes involving child abuse materials.
Amongst the persons arrested in Singapore, nine have been referred to the Home Team Community Assistance and Referral Scheme (HT CARES), where social workers, also known as CARES officers, will conduct social triaging on them and assess whether further intervention is needed.
Jail term and fine for sale or purchase of child abuse material
● According to Section 377BK of Singapore’s Penal Code 1871, any person who has in possession, or has gained access to child abuse material, and knows or has reason to believe that the material is child abuse material shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years, and shall also be liable to a fine or caning.
● Under Section 377BI Penal Code 1871, those who distribute, or sell, or offer for sale child abuse material or have in the possession child abuse material for the purpose of such distribution, sale or offer for sale, and know or have reason to believe that the material is child abuse material shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years and shall also be liable to a fine or to caning.
● Anyone of or above 18 years of age shall be guilty of an offence if he, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification from another person below 16 years of age, engages in communication that is sexual in nature. A person who is guilty of this offence under Section 376EB of the Penal Code 1871 shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, or with fine, or with both if the victim is below 14 years of age, and in any other case, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, or with a fine, or with both.
● Under 292(1)(a) of the Penal Code 1871, whoever sells, lets to hire, distributes, transmits by electronic means, publicly exhibits or in any manner puts into circulation, or for purposes of sale, hire, distribution, transmission, public exhibition or circulation, makes, produces, or has in his possession any obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation or figure, or any other obscene object whatsoever, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 months, or with a fine, or with both.
“Crimes against children cannot be condoned”
Assistant Commissioner Yeo Yee Chuan, Deputy Director CID, expressed his appreciation of all the SPF, HKPF and KNPA officers involved for their professionalism and tenacity during the operations.
The CID officer said, “Crimes against children cannot be condoned. The proliferation of the Internet, as well as the rapid development of other technology, has enabled the fast, widespread, and anonymous distribution of child abuse materials worldwide.”
Emphasising on the need for cross-border collaboration, he said, “It is important for law enforcement agencies to continue taking tough and co-ordinated enforcement actions against online child sexual exploitation activities, including the possession and distribution of child abuse materials.
“Singapore takes a serious view of child sexual exploitation and abuse, and will spare no effort to protect children from such harm. Those found engaging in such activities will be dealt firmly in accordance with the law.”
Acting Senior Superintendent Rachel Hui, from the Cyber-Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the HKPF, expressed her gratitude to Singapore Police for co-ordinating this joint operation. She stated that enforcement actions against child sexual abuse were of utmost importance.
The KNPA also expressed its sincere appreciation, stating, “This special operation was a very meaningful attempt to curb crimes against children, such as overseas messengers and websites. We hope to strengthen solidarity between countries and expand it in the future to cope with child sexual exploitation crimes.”