An Abu Dhabi court has handed down prison sentences to eight individuals involved in online child sexual exploitation. Investigations uncovered that these individuals used social media and gaming platforms to lure minors into sharing explicit content.
The offenders were also convicted of possessing and distributing indecent material featuring children.
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court imposed sentences ranging from 3 to 15 years in prison, along with fines reaching up to Dh1 million.
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In addition to the prison sentences and fines, the court ordered the confiscation of devices used in the crimes and banned the offenders from internet access.
Further, the online accounts of the convicts will be terminated, and three of them are set to be deported after serving their jail terms.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi tracked suspicious online activities and cases of minor exploitation online. Following thorough investigations, arrest warrants were issued, leading to the arrest of the defendants.
Forensic analysis of the offenders’ electronic devices confirmed the existence of child pornography that had been circulated online.
On Monday, the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution urged parents to oversee their children’s online activities, educate them on the risks of accepting unknown friend requests on social media or gaming platforms, and teach them how to react if they face blackmail.
