KUALA LUMPUR: Thirteen men have been detained in connection with possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) following raids across six states.
The joint raids, codenamed "Ops Pedo Bersepadu," were conducted by the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Perak, Johor, and Terengganu on Monday (Dec 23).
Some 18 teams were formed, consisting of several divisions from Bukit Aman CID, including the Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11), Forensic Laboratory Division (D10), and Technical Assistance Division (D6).
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the operation began at 9pm on Thursday (Dec 19), involving officers from Bukit Aman CID and MCMC.
"A total of 18 premises were raided, and devices belonging to 13 individuals were seized.
"The raiding teams also seized 40,000 CSAM materials.
"Thirteen men aged between 20 and 74 have been detained for possessing CSAM and pornographic materials," he said when contacted on Tuesday (Dec 24).
Six men were detained in Johor, three in Selangor, and one each from Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Penang, and Terengganu, the IGP said.
"One of those detained was an account manager, a travel operator, some were electricians, while others were jobless," he added.
Among the items seized were seven computers, a laptop, 11 mobile phones, seven modems, nine routers, a DVD unit, and a hard disk, Razarudin said.
"We are investigating under Section 10 of the Sexual Crimes Against Children Act 2017 for possession of child pornography and Section 292 of the Penal Code for possession of pornographic material," he said.
Five suspects were remanded for four days, four suspects were remanded for three days, two were remanded for a day, while two others were released on police bail.
A total of 107 personnel and officers were involved in the joint raids, he said.
