Seven CSA Stories from Seven Countries on Today's Global Pervs n Paedos List

Social media giants tip Finnish police off on
thousands of suspicious images

Child sex abuse reports in Finland have grown by

more than 50 percent in the past two years

The NBI says perpetrators can send hundreds of grooming messages with a single click.
Image: Esko Jämsä / AOP

Last year social media networks sent Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) some 5,000 tip-offs regarding potential child sex abuse material.

Sari Sarani, a cyber crime specialist with the NBI, said incoming alerts multiplied as social media networks started to more closely monitor and report illicit material.

Most tip-offs to the NBI pertain to child sex abuse images and attempts by users to groom children for sexual acts.

Sometimes the tips run into a dead end if Finnish police are unable to track down locations or potential victims and perpetrators. In some cases, material flagged by social media companies doesn't raise concern in Finland, particularly in regard to sauna photos.

"In the United States, sharing a Finnish-style sauna photo would most often be considered illicit. In Finland it isn’t unless there’s something sexual about the picture," Sarani explained.

Cases of children sharing their own naked photos on social media have also landed at the NBI. The bureau may forward these types of cases to child welfare authorities even if there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

Police said it’s unclear whether the surge in tip-offs is due to better filters or if online sex crime is becoming more rampant.

I vote for all of the above.

About five child sex abuse reports were lodged in Finland for every day of 2019, totalling 1,837 counts.

Child sex abuse reports in Finland grew by 56 percent over the past two years, according to figures published by the National Police Board on Friday.

Staffordshire Police detective sexually abused by Barry Bennell urges victims to 'speak out'

By Dayna Farrington | Staffordshire | Express & Star

A Staffordshire police detective who was sexually abused as a child by paedophile football coach Barry Bennell has said the best thing he ever did was "speak up".

Gary Cliffe, who works for Staffordshire Police, has spoken out after he was sexually abused as a child

Detective Constable Gary Cliffe was on his way to making his dreams of becoming a professional footballer true before his life was changed forever.

Between the ages of 11 and 15, he was abused by coach and convicted paedophile Bennell.

Gary is now speaking out and urging victims to come forward as part of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2020.

He said: "I wanted to be a footballer and I was on my way. I was introduced to Bennell and the abuse started straight away."

Gary, who turns 50 this year, had signed up to Manchester City when he was just 14 years old and had hopes of all his dreams coming true.

But after years of abuse, he left the sport – and spent years trying to process the horror of his childhood caused by Bennell before bravely speaking out and calling the police in 2015.

Barry Bennell was jailed for 30 years for abusing 12 young footballers he coached

Gary, who has waived his right to anonymity, said: "The best thing I ever did was speaking up.

"For many, many years it was buried, especially for men. Men feel shame, embarrassment, peer pressure and worry what people think.

"However, it was like a tonne of bricks being lifted off my back.

“A lot of sexual abuse and sexual violence is tied up with coercive and controlling behaviour by the power of the perpetrator. By reporting it to police, it enables you to take back a little more power.

“I was on medication for over 20 years before I spoke up. I decided to report it in 2015 because I was getting older and I really didn’t want to be sat in later life when I was retired really regretting it.

"I wanted a conviction in my name so I set it off. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’d say to anyone who is thinking about speaking up – it’s so helpful to have a network of family or trusted friends around you to support you.

Importance

“Sometimes the justice system can be very long and frustrating but it’s all worthwhile in the end if you get a conviction.”

Gary, who joined Staffordshire Police as a PC in 2002, now works as a detective in the force's Child Protection and Exploitation Team, based in Stoke-on-Trent.

He added: "The importance of talking is massive. Opening your mouth and talking can come across as a cliché but it’s true. People may think there’s a lot of barriers built up in your own mind but they are not there. After I had spoken up, the support was incredible – from everyone – my friends, family and the force.

“Speaking up got me the control back. When you are a child and you grow up, you can’t put your head as a child on again. The easiest thing in the world is to keep your mouth shut than speak up so you can bury it and try and carry on.

“Not a day goes by I don’t think about what happened to me. Often children don’t speak up because they don’t have the vocabulary, they don’t know what’s going on and can’t stop the abuse.

“I was absolutely elated at the end of the trial after I had heard he had been found guilty. It was a long old journey but the satisfaction following the conviction is worthwhile. There’s a sense of taking control back.

“There are so many services on offer to people who have suffered sexual abuse – speaking up was the first step and the best thing I ever did.”

In February 2018, Bennell was jailed for 30 years for abusing 12 young footballers he coached. Former Crewe Alexandra coach and Manchester City scout Bennell was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of 50 child sexual offences committed between 1979 and 1991.

Director of well-known Kerala school arrested
for sexually abusing 10-y/o student

Dr Yesodaran was booked in Thiruvananthapuram for

sexually abusing a 10-y/o girl on Friday afternoon

Sreedevi Jayarajan 

The News Minute

In a shocking incident on Friday, the director of a well-known chain of schools in Thiruvananthapuram was booked by the police under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, for allegedly sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl. What is of bigger concern is that this is not the first time that the man has been accused of sexually abusing a child. He was accused of sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl in 2008 at the same school, but was acquitted due to lack of evidence, police say.

So, he was given another 12 years to sexually assault who knows how many more children?

The recent incident allegedly took place on Friday afternoon, inside the school campus in Thiruvananthapuram. 

According to the police, on Friday afternoon, Dr Yesodharan allegedly sexually assaulted the class 4 student in a deserted classroom.

"All the children had stepped out of the class and it was empty. This was when the incident happened. The child later complained to her mother that the accused had touched her inappropriately. The parents then came and filed a complaint with the police," Circle Inspector of Valiamala Police Station told TNM. 

A statement of the minor was taken on Friday evening and the accused was booked under sections 7, 8 (sexual assault) and 9 (f) (management or staff of an educational institution or religious institution, committing sexual assault on a child in that institution shall be), 9 (m) (sexual assault on a child below twelve years) and 9 (l) (sexual assault on the child more than once or repeatedly) and 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of POCSO Act. 

During investigations in the case, it was revealed that he has been accused of child sexual abuse previously as well. "However, in 2008, the POCSO Act had not come into existence, and we had registered a case under IPC section 377 (unnatural offences) based on the complaint of the minor. He was later acquitted of the charges, possibly over a lack of evidence, and he continued to serve as the director of the school," the Valiamala CI added. 

Good grief! Just the suspicion should have been enough to get him dismissed.

On Saturday, the accused was arrested and presented before the Nedumangadu Judicial First Class magistrate. He was later remanded to judicial custody. 

"From our investigations, we have confirmed that the accused is wealthy, is well placed in society and has considerable political connections. He is also a member of SNDP - Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, a charitable organisation, working for the social and economic upliftment of backward communities," the CI added. The accused's social media profile also mentions that he serves as the director of the Sree Narayana International Study Center, Department of Culture, Government of Kerala. 

'I never thought it would happen to me':

Singapore girl who was groomed online at 13

Parenting coach Vivian Kwek never thought her daughter Celestine Tan would fall prey to an online groomer,
until she read the messages on her phone. (Photo: Rachel Phua)

By Rachel Phua

SINGAPORE: It began innocently with comments such as: “You can always tell me anything if it helps ok."

Then, beguilingly: “You are like me and I know you would never mean to hurt upset anyone unless they upset you."

But then things grew more sinister. “(Are you getting worried) about my (private) detective and how close he/she (???) is to finding where you live. We already know where you kayak … lol," a message said about four weeks into their conversation. 

Celestine Tan was on her phone constantly for six weeks between December 2017 and February 2018, she remembered. She had been chatting with people she believed to be a woman and her husband from the UK, although their identities were never confirmed. 

They had found each other through the video game MineCraft. Celestine, now 15, had logged on to one of the game’s many private servers - where smaller groups of players gather - at the suggestion of a friend. When she was online, she would not usually activate her online chat function, but joining the group required her to.

No doubt, a function specifically for paedophiles.

A woman who called herself Carolana started talking to Celestine on the public chat as well as through private messages. Celestine cannot remember what they spoke about at first. But then the woman suggested they move their conversation onto Discord, a chat service app popular among gamers, so that they could message using phones.  

The back and forth was constant, said Celestine. The home-schooled teenager thought she had found a new best friend who understood her. It was at a point in her life when her mother was busy with work, and she felt she was not connecting with her friends. 

She never saw anything suspicious about the budding online relationship, since they did video calls too. Celestine saw that Carolana was an elderly woman who had difficulty walking. At least, that was how she looked to her. 

Her mother, Mdm Vivian Kwek, said the woman looked like “an oversized man with a wig”.

By week two of their exchange on Discord, Celestine shared personal information - her real name, age, a photo of her family and that she kayaked at MacRitchie Reservoir - to Carolana.

At times a man, whom Carolana said was her husband called Phil, would appear in the video calls or message her using Carolana’s account as well. The woman suggested that both she and Phil could fly to Singapore one day to meet up. 

Other messages had a sexual tone. For instance, the woman brought up an idea that Phil was fine if Carolana spent the night with a male friend. 

There is much more to this grooming story on ChannelNewsAsia. 

Stones thrown by u/o sect rioters as police arrest rabbi accused of rape & ‘healing’ for money 

Israeli policemen escort Rabbi Eliezer Berland © THOMAS COEX / AFP

Members of a cult-like sect tried everything to prevent officers from bringing to custody a controversial Israeli rabbi thought to have taken advantage of gravely ill people and convicted of sexual assaults on women.

Israeli police have arrested Rabbi Eliezer Berland early on Sunday morning, along with his wife and other top members of his ultra-Orthodox Shuvu Bonim sect. Shortly afterwards, the sect’s followers thronged the nearby street, trying to seal it off and stop the vehicle carrying Berland.

Stunning footage from the arrest shows them hurling stones at officers and banging fists on the passing car. Riot police shielded the vehicle as it passed by and tried to stand ground; two of them were injured, local media reported.

The stand-off saw officers fire stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

One of his blessings turned out to be a grand scam that cost a human live. Several years ago, a follower of Berland who was diagnosed with cancer but Berland allegedly instructed her not to get chemotherapy and instead to pay 20,000 shekels (roughly $5,800) for his blessing which he said would save her. 

The woman died last September, and her mother accuses Berland of responsibility for her daughter’s death.

Aside from that, the rabbi had two counts of sexual assault against two women. He has reportedly ordered to assault the husband of one of the victim’s for reporting the issue to the local media.

Back in 2016, audio recordings of Berland surfaced in the press, in which he ostensibly admits to raping one of his victims. He was not convicted for rape but had to flee Israel, travelling across several countries to avoid extradition to the Jewish State.

Sex offender rabbi to be honored at Lag B’Omer festival in Israel (4th story on link)

Athletics Canada calls allegations of coach-underage athlete sexual relationship 'deeply disturbing''

University of Guelph fired David Scott-Thomas on Dec. 16

for unprofessional conduct

The Canadian Press

Athletics Canada says the allegations of a sexual relationship between a former national track and field coach and an under-age athlete in a newspaper report are "deeply disturbing."

The statement came on Saturday hours after The Globe and Mail published a story detailing the alleged affair between former University of Guelph track and field coach Dave Scott-Thomas and former student-athlete Megan Brown.

The University of Guelph fired Scott-Thomas on Dec. 16 for unprofessional conduct.

Scott-Thomas was also a coach on 16 Canadian national teams, including the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2015 and '17 world track and field championships.

In a Jan. 9 statement on the school's news website, the university said it received a complaint in 2006 from a family member of a student athlete, and while an investigation didn't substantiate all of the allegations, it determined some misconduct had occurred and Scott-Thomas was suspended for four weeks.

The university received a complaint from another student athlete about Scott-Thomas this past fall, and again retained an independent external investigator. Scott-Thomas was placed on paid leave pending the outcome.

Gabriela DeBues-Stafford✔

@gstafford13

1/4 @AthleticsCanada This statement is pathetic. An athlete was abused repeatedly by a coach under your watch. Your leadership KNEW about the abuse. AC not only allowed Dave to continue coaching but put Dave in positions of power where Megan would be forced to interact w him https://twitter.com/AthleticsCanada/status/1226250017515737095 …

Athletics Canada✔

@AthleticsCanada

Athletics Canada statement regarding Dave Scott-Thomas Globe and Mail articlehttps://athletics.ca/athletics-canada-statement-regarding-dave-scott-thomas-globe-and-mail-article/

During that investigation, the university received new information that "made it clear that Scott-Thomas had lied repeatedly in 2006 about several significant matters."

Scott-Thomas was fired as a result of that new information. The university said that had it been aware of this information in 2006, it "would have terminated its relationship with Scott-Thomas at that time."

If you had made any effort to verify this creep's lies, you probably could have know much earlier. It appears you accepted the pervert's lies over the victim's truths. Shame on you.

Attempts by The Canadian Press to reach Scott-Thomas were unsuccessful.

On Saturday, Athletics Canada issued its statement clarifying its position in the wake of The Globe and Mail's article in which Brown alleges Scott-Thomas "groomed her as a 17-year-old for a sexual relationship."

Nicole Sifuentes✔

@ndsifuentes

This is a heartbreaking and horrifying story. 

Makes me question everyone I ever interacted with at Athletics Canada. https://twitter.com/stevegweiler/status/1226149086841233408 …

Steve Weiler

@SteveGWeiler

Everyone in any way involved with Athletics in Canada needs to read every word of this story.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-athlete-breaks-silence-about-sexual-misconduct-of-university-of-guelph/ …

The Globe and Mail story says that Scott-Thomas first met Brown, now 35, when she was 16 and recruited her for university after an Ontario high school victory in 2001.

Speed River club ceases operations
"After learning of these allegations from the University of Guelph's investigation in late 2019/early 2020, Athletics Canada initiated a complaint into Mr. Scott-Thomas with its independent Commissioner's Office," read the statement. "At the time the Athletics Canada complaint was initiated, the independent Commissioner's Office provisionally suspended Mr. Scott-Thomas pending the outcome of the investigation."

Leslie Sexton

@LeslieSexton

Would this scumbag still be coaching if @mdfdoyle hadn't investigated this? Seems painfully obvious from the article that U of Guelph and Athletics Canada valued protecting their golden boy's reputation over the safety and well-being of an athlete.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/canada/article-athlete-breaks-silence-about-sexual-misconduct-of-university-of-guelph/ …

Athletics Canada noted that no complaint had been made directly to the national organizing body or its independent commissioner's office.

Scott-Thomas led the Guelph Gryphons to 37 national titles in cross-country and track and field, and earned U Sports coach of the year in the two disciplines 35 times.

He was also the head coach of the Speed River Track and Field Club, of which numerous Olympians have been members. The club announced in January it was ceasing operations.

In its statement, the university said it was saddened to learn that student athletes had unacceptable experiences, and "we offer an apology to those who endured suffering and hardship."

Another child sexually abused in Nowshera, Pakistan

(MENAFN - Tribal News Network) NOWSHERA: Another sexual abuse case has been reported in Nowshera where a 22-year-old young man has been accused of sexually abusing an eight-year-old boy.

A resident of Khat Killi, Rahimabad, said in his report with Azakhel Police that his son Ahmed was going to madrassa from home when he was first tortured by the accused and then sexually abused in a deserted place.

Police shifted the affected boy to District Headquarters Hospital Nowshera where the medical report confirmed sexual abuse. The accused, Rizwanullah, has been arrested and further investigator is underway.

Public outcry against such heinous crimes is rising and civil society and lawmakers are lobbying for strictest punishments for culprits involved in sexual abuse of children. The National Assembly on Saturday passed a resolution demanding public hanging of rape and murder convicts. The KP Assembly's committee has also framed recommendations for legislation which include the suggestion of public hanging of culprits involved in sexual abuse and murder of children.

Despite so much hatred and indignation against sexual abuse, such crimes are not stopping in the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which have left parents extremely perturbed about safety of their children. In KP, Nowshera district has particularly reported more cases of sexual abuse of children.

On January 19, eight-year-old girl, Ewaz Noor was killed after sexual abuse in Kaka Sahib area of Nowshera. According to police, the girl went out of her house for religious class at, but did not return home. The body of the girl was found near a small garden near the victim's house.

On December 22, a 13-year-old female Madrassa student accused two persons of sexually abusing her after kidnap in Sanobar Killi, Pir Sabaq. The girl alleged that she was going home after religious lesion at Madrassa when three accused, Sajjad and Usman, kidnapped her in their vehicle and gang-raped her.

On December 12, an eight-year-old boy was sexually abused by two accused in Amangarh area. Pervaiz Khan, father of the victim boy, said his son was coming back from Madrassa when he was gang-raped.

On November 01, a man subjected his 13-year-old stepson to sexual abuse in Petao area of Akora Khattak. The mother of the victim child told police that she had gone to the house of neighbours and when she came back her son was weeping. She said her son told her that his step-father subjected him to sexual abuse.

Another such incident was reported in Nowshera on September 08.

Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Sajjad Ahmed said 15 cases of sexual abuse were reported in Nowshera in 2019, while six such cases have been reported in the first month of 2020.