KUALA LUMPUR: 13 men have been detained during raids in six states for possessing child sexual abuse material.
“The raiding teams seized 40,000 of such items,” said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
Among those caught were an account manager, a travel operator and several electricians.
“Many others were jobless,” he said, adding that their ages ranged from 20 to 74.
Razarudin said the joint raids, given the codename “Ops Pedo Bersepadu”, were conducted by the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
He said that 107 personnel and officers were involved.
A total of 18 teams were formed consisting of several divisions from the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) including the Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11), Forensic Laboratory Division (D10) and Technical Assistance Division (D6), as well as officers from MCMC, he said when contacted yesterday.
The swoops took place in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Perak, Johor and Terengganu on Monday.
“Eighteen premises were raided and devices belonging to the 13 men were seized,” the IGP said.
Among the items seized were seven desktop computers, a laptop, 11 mobile phones, seven modems, nine routers, a DVD unit and a hard disk, he added.
Razarudin said six men were detained in Johor, three in Selangor, plus one each from Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Penang and Terengganu.
Five of them were remanded for four days, four suspects remanded for three days, two remanded a day while two others were released on police bail.
“We are investigating the case under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act for possession of child pornography and Section 292 of the Penal Code for possession of pornographic material,” he added.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil commended the police – especially the D11 – along with the MCMC on the success of Ops Pedo Sepadu.
“Such stern action is proof of the commitment of the authorities in curbing sexual crimes against children,” he said.
He added that the government would continue to be supportive of efforts to protect the safety and well-being of children.
Fahmi also urged all online platform providers to be more proactive in blocking immoral and illegal activities.
“We also advise parents to play a part in monitoring their children’s use of social media, especially those who are underage,” he said in a statement.
