An Abu Dhabi court has sentenced eight individuals to prison for online child sexual exploitation, following investigations that revealed they lured minors through social media and gaming platforms to share explicit material.
They were also found guilty of possessing and exchanging indecent content involving children.
In its ruling, the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court sent the convicted to jail terms between 3 and 15 years along with fines of up to Dh1 million.
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Besides the jail sentences and the financial penalty, the court ordered the confiscation of devices used in committing the crimes and banned the convicts from accessing the internet.
Furthermore, the convicts’ related online accounts will be closed, and three of them will be deported upon the completion of their prison terms.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi monitored suspicious online activities and cases of online exploitation of minors. After extensive investigations, arrest warrants were issued and the defendants were apprehended.
Forensic analysis of the convicts’ electronic devices confirmed the presence of child pornographic material that had been obtained and shared online.
In a statement on Monday, the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution called on parents to monitor their children’s online activity, raise awareness of the dangers of accepting friend requests from unknown individuals through social media or gaming platforms, and educate them on how to respond if they become victims of blackmail.
