4 Singapore victims found in multinational police operation against online child sexual abuse, Latest news from Singapore

A recent multinational police operation targeting online child sexual exploitation and abuse materials found four children from Singapore among the victims.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) made the announcement for the first time, telling the Straits Times that this was the first operation it had organised involving other jurisdictions in the matter and its largest investigation of its kind to date.

The operation took place between February 26 and March 29 and also affected police in Hong Kong and South Korea.

“So far, four victims from Singapore have been identified and the victims have been provided with appropriate victim support.

“The SPF takes a victim-centered approach in supporting victims of online child sexual exploitation,” police said, without giving further details.

In its statement, the police report said that international cooperation was needed to effectively combat crimes against children. Police also pointed out that the proliferation of the internet and social media had facilitated the production and distribution of images of child sexual abuse.

“Such cross-border operations are a testament to the SPF’s determination to play a proactive role in tackling the scourge of online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

“By working with likeminded police forces around the world, we can strengthen the reach of our law enforcement actions. Our children are only safe if our region is safe from child sexual abuse material,” police said, adding that they would spare no effort to protect children from such harm.

“We are taking a comprehensive approach that includes legislation, enforcement, technological tools, rehabilitation and international cooperation to address the threat of child sexual exploitation and abuse.”

Dr Annabelle Chow, senior clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology and Annabelle Kids, said child sexual abuse is traumatic because of the nature of betrayal, feelings of powerlessness, stigma and traumatic sexualisation.

“The creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material adds an additional layer of trauma.

“Victims are exposed to constant fear and a feeling of vulnerability because the abusive material is constantly available and can be easily shared via the Internet.

“They struggle with intense feelings of anger, guilt, humiliation and powerlessness, while also waging a lifelong battle to maintain their integrity,” Dr. Chow added.

She said many victims fear the spread of the distributed materials will never end and are afraid of being recognized by someone who has seen the materials.

“This concern is real because victims can be identified through assault, stalking, shaming or blackmail and become re-victims of assault, often leading to further trauma,” she said, adding that victims may experience relationship difficulties, such as limited or no contact with their families, difficulties in parenting themselves and problems with their spouse.

“Some report feeling oversexualized in later social and romantic relationships, having difficulty taking selfies or photos with friends, or wanting to hide from public interactions.

“These conflicts can exacerbate interpersonal difficulties and feelings of isolation,” Dr. Chow said.

Youngest arrested a 12-year-old

The multinational operation resulted in the arrest of a total of 272 suspects across all three jurisdictions, including 28 in Singapore, on suspicion of possessing, accessing and distributing child abuse material.

Among those arrested were a seller of child abuse material and seven people who had purchased the material from him.

The youngest man caught in the cross-border operation was 12 years old, the oldest 73. Among the 13 men arrested in Hong Kong were a teacher and a cook.

Singapore police said it was the largest operation of this type of crime to date.

“Officers of the Special Crimes Branch of the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) organised and carried out these operations with the support of the investigative departments of the rural divisions,” they added.

Those arrested in Singapore had used messaging platforms to promote, communicate and confirm contracts for the child sexual abuse material. Many of them also used peer-to-peer sharing platforms to download and share the material.

In April 2023, the SPF announced that it had investigated 96 cases relating to crimes related to child sexual abuse since new laws to combat this problem came into force on January 1, 2020.

The new laws followed a revision of the penal code to criminalize the production, distribution, promotion and possession of child abuse material.

Given the rapid development of technologies that enable the rapid, widespread and anonymous dissemination of exploitative and abusive material, the amendments should also include crimes related to child abuse.

In 2020, the SPF began using Interpol’s international image and video database on child sexual exploitation, housed at the Cyber ​​Guardian Lab. The lab, located in the Police Cantonment Complex, allows investigators to extract electronic files from devices seized from the accused.

Following an operation in March 2023, investigators used artificial intelligence tools in the laboratory to filter out child sexual abuse material from seized electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones and hard drives.

During the operation, 23 men between the ages of 22 and 61 were arrested for sexual exploitation of children.

Police said offenders who sexually exploit children may be referred to the Home Team Community Assistance and Referral Scheme (HT Cares) to identify underlying factors that trigger the criminal behaviour.

In addition, offenders can be referred to social services for longer-term counseling.

The program, introduced in January 2019, aims to reduce the recidivism rate among offenders during investigations.

Offenders who sexually exploit children were included in the program in 2023.

According to SPF, responses from offenders referred to HT Cares this year have been “positive and promising.” Some of the offenders arrested in the recent multinational operation were also referred to HT Cares.