Court sentences man to two years in prison for sharing child pornography

Court imposes fine of Rs50,000 on convict

FAISALABAD:

A Faisalabad court on Saturday sentenced a man involved in sharing child pornography to two years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs50,000, reported Express News.

According to a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) spokesperson, the accused, Asif Mehmood Raza, had shared material related to child pornography in various WhatsApp groups in the year 2021.

The Faisalabad FIA Cyber Crime Circle took action and registered a case against the man under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

A complaint against the accused had been received from an international organisation, the spokesperson added. Legal Assistant Director Sajid Sohail Ranjha followed the case on behalf of the Faisalabad Cybercrime FIA.

Following the trial, the judge convicted Asif, sentencing him to two years imprisonment and imposing a Rs50,000 fine.

Read Cybercrime upsurge aided by FIA’s lack of capacity

Earlier this year, more than 20 people suspected of being involved in child pornography were arrested in several cities of Punjab, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Rawalpindi.

An investigation revealed that millions of rupees are being earned in various cities of Punjab through child pornography, video streaming and blackmailing.

An operation was launched against persons involved in child pornography and molestation in Punjab. Indecent videos and photos of children, women and men, aphrodisiacs and equipment were seized from the arrested persons.

It was revealed during the investigation that children were befriended while playing an online game, after which their indecent video clips were recorded by luring them.

Students of various private colleges and universities in Lahore, Gujrat and Multan were lured to join the groups using tactics like private parties, group study and modelling.

According to FIA sources, many of the victims’ families were not cooperative in the investigations due to the fear of defamation and threats of blackmail.