TOKYO: Seven men in Japan had been arrested as of Monday (March 10) for sexually abusing minors, including their own daughters, and sharing child pornography, local media reported.
Police in Aichi prefecture of central Japan said the suspects, in their 30s to 50s, committed penetrative sexual assaults against underage females, according to Mainichi News, citing anonymous investigative sources.
Four suspects were believed to have filmed and shared videos in a group chat, while three others were found to possess similar materials.
The arrests took place between November and March.
All suspects have confessed to the charges, according to Chukyo TV.
Under Japanese law, anyone engaging in sexual intercourse with females under 13 faces at least five years in prison.
Additionally, producing, supplying, or possessing child pornography is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of three million yen (US$20,000).
In November, one of the men was arrested for sexually abusing an underage person.
A search of his phone led to the group’s discovery, exposing a broader range of offences.
Victims, who were aged six to 14 at the time of the arrests, included the biological and adopted daughters of the suspects.
An initial investigation revealed that the group was established in December 2023.
Authorities believe that the group’s purpose was solely to share obscene footage and images of assaults.
The group’s administrator was identified as a man in his 40s; more than 10 others were found to have joined the group and shared such materials.
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More than 100 videos and images were uploaded to the group.
Authorities believe more people associated with the group had committed similar offences.
The investigation into the case is ongoing. Investigators found messages indicating one suspect committed his alleged offence when a victim was only three years old.
“If you tell your mum, you won’t be able to be with dad. Can you keep the secret?” one of the users told a victim while sharing the conversation with the group.
One expert said such crimes were difficult to uncover and are often overlooked, because close family members commit them.
“[Victims] can’t tell anyone because they don’t know that what is being done to them is sexual and wrong,” Dr Kanako Ito, who regularly offers support to victims of sexual abuse, told public broadcaster NHK, adding that such abuses could be exposed during physical examinations.
“It is necessary for us to teach children what is wrong and that it is OK to ask adults for help,” she added. - South China Morning Post
