Cambodia charges 2 Canadians, 7 Europeans, 1 N.Z., accused of pornographic dance
The Associated Press
In this photo dated Jan. 25, 2018, a group of unidentified foreigners are seen at the party police raided in Siem Reap. (Cambodian National Police via AP)
Cambodian prosecutors charged 10 foreigners, including two Canadians, Sunday with producing pornographic pictures after they were arrested at a party in Siem Reap town, near the country's famed Angkor Wat temple complex.
Police said they raided a rented villa on Thursday where the foreigners were taking part in what organizers billed as a pub crawl and found people "dancing pornographically." While almost 90 foreigners were detained, all but 10 were released.
The 10 arrested are five British nationals, two Canadians, one Norwegian, one New Zealander and one from the Netherlands. A statement on the arrests posted on the National Police website Sunday included photos showing clothed young adults rolling around together on a dance floor.
So, is that the extent of it, or were there more images with less clothing? The photos above are hardly what passes for pornography these days and in most countries pornography is legal anyway. That's unfortunate, because pornography is frequently used by paedophiles to soften-up children they are about to sexually abuse.
Nevertheless, international travellers need to be aware of decency standards in countries they visit. These countries do not appreciate westerners bringing their sorry levels of morality with them and then displaying them for the world to see.
One would think that between 10 people the cumulative IQ would be sufficient to know better, but apparently not. I hope they enjoy the rest of their stay in Cambodia.
In this photo dated Jan. 27, 2018, the 10 foreigners stand after they were arrested for 'dancing pornographically' at a party in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Cambodian National Police via AP)
The prosecutor of the Siem Reap provincial court, Samrith Sokhon, told The Associated Press by phone that those charged face up to a year in prison if convicted.
He said, after producing the photos, the foreigners shared them on social media.
'Contrary to Cambodia's traditions'
"Any people producing pornography is contrary to Cambodia's traditions," he said.
Global Affairs Canada has confirmed it's aware of the arrests.
"Consular services are being provided to the Canadian citizens who have been detained in Cambodia. Consular officials are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information," the department said in a statement.
"To protect the privacy of the individuals concerned, further details on this case cannot be released," it said.
The United Kingdom's Foreign Office also confirmed it was in contact with the British nationals in Cambodia.
"We are assisting five British men arrested in Cambodia and are providing support to their families," the office said in an emailed response to AP.
Man held for attempted sexual assault of minor in Kasur, Pakistan results in riots against police
KASUR: Police arrested a man accused of attempting to sexually assault a minor girl in Kot Radha Kishan tehsil of Kasur on Sunday.
The incident took place in Baghel Singh village on the outskirts of tehsil Kot Radha Kishan, where locals alleged that a shopkeeper attempted to sexually assault an eight-year-old girl.
The villagers claimed that the accused got scared and let the minor girl go when she started shouting. They took hold of the suspect and subsequently beat him up before handing him over to the police.
The residents of the village accused the police of trying to help the suspect go into hiding on the orders of local member of the National Assembly (MNA). At which, raged individuals attacked the police vehicle and tortured policemen. The law enforcers, however, whisked the injured suspect to police station.
According to protesters, district police officer (DPO) Kasur has suspended two policemen.
On the other hand, local MNA Salman Hanif said that he had nothing to do with the matter. "We were told [by the protesters] that 'police were taking the suspect back to his home, due to which we blocked the road'. This is the matter; rest we do not know what has been going on there."
Taking notice of the incident, Inspector General (IG) Punjab Arif Nawaz has sought a report from DPO Kasur.
The incident comes amid a countrywide outpour of anger over brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, Zainab, in Kasur. Zainab was kidnapped on January 4 in Kasur and found five days later from a garbage pile. The post-mortem revealed Zainab had been raped and murdered.
Later, the authorities succeeded in nabbing the suspect, Imran, said to be a serial killer involved in several similar cases in Kasur.
With the suspect arrested after days of efforts, the father of the victim Sunday demanded legislation to allow the suspect's public hanging. Amin Ansari, Zainab's father, said, "If the Parliament can make laws to allow a disqualified person to head a political party, why can't it do this."
The remarks were made during hearing of the Zainab rape and murder suo motu case by the Supreme Court of Pakistan at its Lahore Registry. The court also barred Zainab's father and his counsel from speaking to the media.
As many as 11 cases of child sexual abuse are reported from across Pakistan every day, according to data compiled by a non-governmental organization, Sahil, which works on child protection.
And, as you know, if you've been reading this blog for awhile, that is just a drop in the bucket of the actual child sex abuses that occur in Pakistan - probably a very small, single digit, percentage.
In the first six months of 2017 alone, 1,764 cases of child sexual abuse were reported from across the country, according to Sahil.
In 2016, the total number of reported child abuse cases stood at a staggering 4,139, bringing the total number of children being abused in Pakistan per day to 11.
The shocking numbers bring to attention the failure of law enforcement agencies in Pakistan, particularly Punjab province, in apprehending criminals and curbing the menace of child sexual abuse.
The thing is, if the police in Pakistan were even moderately competent and not so utterly corrupt, the number of cases of CSA would increase dramatically. Most cases are not reported because of police incompetence, indifference, and corruption, and also from the stigma of dishonour and the consequences of that in a medieval, Muslim society.
Court indicts school principal in Pakistan on
sexual abuse charges
By Hidayat Khan
PESHAWAR: A court in Peshawar on Saturday indicted a private school principal on charges of sexual abuse and making of objectionable videos of a student.
Attaullah Marwat, a private school principal, was arrested last year on charges of sexual abuse of a women, making objectionable videos and child abuse. He was also charged with rape, making pornography, inviting sexual workers to the school premises and making their videos.
Marwat was accused of making secret videos of women and students through cameras installed on the school premises. He was also accused of blackmailing the victims. The police said they recovered more than two dozens of such videos, aphrodisiacs and a weapon from Marwat’s possession.
Marwat was arrested by the Hayatabad police in July, last year on the complaints of the students, who had informed the police that the principal was sexually exploiting the schoolchildren.
The accused had confessed to his crime before a local magistrate but pleaded not guilty on all counts in the court. The court has fixed February 3 as the next date of hearing of the case.
Inquiry needed into sex abuse in S African schools as videos of Principal having sex with students hits the internet
The DA (Democratic Alliance) strongly condemns the disgusting behaviour displayed by the Reiger Park High School Principal after videos and photos went viral on social media of him allegedly having sex with learners in his office.
Khume Ramulifho
It is an absolute disgrace that a principal who is supposed to be a true leader, a guardian and a shield to protect these learners from abuse within and outside the school premises is engaged in this type of behaviour.
We welcome this sex-pest (I hate that word - it's like saying child sex abuse is an annoyance; CSA is flat-out evil) principal's immediate resignation from his post. However, he must not go unpunished for stripping these learners of their innocence and needs to face the full might of the law.
This principal must be named and shamed for destroying the future and the dignity of our learners and should be be registered as a sexual offender.
He must also be banned from ever working with children again.
For far too long, the Gauteng Premier, David Makhura and the Gauteng Department of Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi have ignored the DA’s call to establish a Commission of Inquiry to probe the extent of sexual abuse in Gauteng schools and to establish a toll-free line for learners to report sexual abuse in schools.
Perhaps the Premier and Education minister are satisfied that South Africa has the highest rape rate in the world by a considerable margin.
The DA made this call last year after more than 87 learners were allegedly sexually abused by patrollers in Soweto schools.
This problem is clearly far bigger than what we initially thought and requires greater intervention than the Premier's task team. There is no time line and no communication with regards to the findings of this task team and when its investigations will be completed.
Sexual abuse in Gauteng schools goes beyond allegations against the patrollers as it also involves principals and educators. The scourge of violence against our learners has infiltrated every level of our education system.
A Commission of Inquiry is the only way to deal with this pandemic.
The DA also condemns those who are circulating the videos and pictures of the principal having sex with these learners as it violates the rights of these children. Possession of child pornography, as well as distributing it, is a criminal offence and charges should be laid against those who are breaking this law.
Psychological counselling must be provided to the victims and their families.
The DA will continue to put pressure on both the Premier and MEC to ensure that the Commission of Inquiry and a sexual abuse toll-free line is established as a matter of urgency.
Our learners are the future leaders of this country and it is within their rights as guaranteed by the constitution to be protected against any sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and child pornography.
Gauteng, South Africa
Judge in charge of Scottish child abuse inquiry calls for New Zealand victims to come forward
Andrea Vance
1 NEWS Political Reporter
The head of a powerful child abuse inquiry is searching for Kiwi child migrants.
Lady Smith is investigating abuse in state care in Scotland and as part of that high-profile inquiry, she's asking Kiwis who were part of a forced migration scheme to come forward.
"Our investigations include the abuse of children whose departure from Scotland was as part of the child migrant programmes that operated during the 20th century," she told 1 NEWS.
"Wherever that abuse happened, we want to know about it."
Thousands of children were sent to Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand between the 1920s and 1970s.
Professor Lynn Abrams of Glasgow University says 2000 children were sent here in 1946, and 1000 in the following year. "After that, we don’t quite know," she says.
And that's the problem facing Lady Smith's inquiry – very little is known about the children sent here to New Zealand. Professor Abrams says it’s likely they were placed in foster care homes, not religious institutions like children sent to Australia.
"They were separated from siblings and any remaining family members and often didn't really understand why they had been sent there," she said.
The inquiry – plus a similar inquiry held in England and Wales – has heard from some Australian migrants. One of them was David Hill – who wrote Forgotten Children – about the experiences of children like him who were sent to Fairbridge Farm School.
"A lot went wrong with these schemes - they were regarded as well-intentioned but some terrible things happened," he says. "The emotional deprivation, the physical abuse and we learned much later the sexual abuse which was endemic."
And while the experience has been positive for some witnesses, coming forward may also be traumatic. "I know there are still many who are not ready and will probably never be ready to talk about it," he said
Lady Smith acknowledges that it’s "not easy" to speak to an inquiry, but says there are an expert team in place.
"For many it will be a painful process. But we ask you to do so because it is critically important that our community faces up to the fact that children in care were wronged in the past and that those responsible for their care failed them."
In 2010 child migrants received an apology from the then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He said: "Today your pain is recognised, your suffering is understood your betrayal is acknowledged by the apology I make on behalf of our country."
Mr Hill said the apology was "very useful" but that the British Government needs to go further "and offer some recompense, some redress."
The Government is this week set to announce details of an inquiry into abuse in state care in New Zealand.
West Reading paedophile jailed for sharing indecent images of children in chatroom
By James Aldridge
A paedophile from Reading who shared indecent images of children in a chatroom has been jailed.
Raymond Taylor, 45, of Beecham Road, West Reading, Berkshire produced and distributed indecent images of children.
He was caught with 529 indecent images of children, some of them in the most serious category.
In an online paedophile chatroom, Taylor wrote "true pedos love boys and girls" and shared his sick fantasies with other users.
Detectives found the images hidden them in a mobile phone tucked away in a drainpipe outside his window, on three external hard drives and four computers. Some images were even stored on computers he used for work at a home security firm.
Taylor was brought to justice following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). He admitted 11 counts of making, and eight counts of distributing indecent images of children.
He was sentenced to four years in prison at Reading Crown Court on Friday, January 26. Taylor was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for life.
He was an associate of Jon Page, 46, of Bridge Close, London, who was jailed for three-and-a-half years in November 2017 as part of the NCA investigation into an online paedophile chatroom.
Jon Page, a convicted paedophile. Credit: National Crime Agency
Taylor and Page streamed real-time footage to the chatroom of themselves engaged in sexual activity at the same time as Page streamed recordings of indecent images of children under the screen name 2 UK peds.
The NCA has identified the sharing and live streaming of child abuse on a variety of platforms is a growing threat, and as a result, UK law enforcement is responding to a significant increase in the reporting of child sexual exploitation.
Martin Ludlow, operations manager at the NCA, said: "Offenders who swap indecent images online prolong the abuse of the children in the pictures.
"Unfortunately with the rise of digital technology, sharing and broadcasting indecent images of children in real time has never been easier, whether on the dark web or more conventional forms of social media.
"The NCA and its partners in law enforcement are wholly committed to tackling this threat and at all times the safety of children is our priority.
"We and our partners in policing are trained and equipped with specialist capabilities with which to detect these offenders and bring them to justice."
Former member of popular Irish Indie band arrested in child grooming sting
The musician thought he was arranging to meet a 14 y/o boy for sex
By Trevor Quinn
A former member of an Irish band was arrested after allegedly going to meet what he thought was a child for sex.
Vigilante group, the Predator Catchers, claimed the musician had travelled from Dublin to Belfast for the meeting and said he had sent numerous lewd messages. However, it was an adult decoy communicating with the man who is believed to have used a false name.
The exchange started on Grindr, a gay dating app and progressed quickly with explicit messages being sent by him to what he believed was a 14-year-old boy. After he was trapped by Predator Catchers members he was held down until police arrived and arrested him.
A PSNI spokesman said: “Police arrested a 32-year-old male in the Glengall Street area of Belfast on Tuesday January, 16 on suspicion of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and attempted sexual communication with a child. The man was interviewed at Musgrave station before being released on bail pending further police inquiries.”
It is understood no charges have been brought but a file may be sent to the North’s Public Prosecution Service over the coming weeks.
The man can be heard constantly shouting “help” in the Predator Catchers’ live video, which was streamed online.
A spokeswoman for the group claimed the first question he asked the decoy on the app was about his age. She added: “He asked sexual questions including asking the size of his penis."
“He had mentioned previously they could do stuff in the car, which was his exact phrase.
“I think originally his plan was to go to the decoy’s house if his mum was out, but he had said if not they would drive around and do stuff.
“He also asked the decoy about his younger brother and they had said he was 12. He had asked about coming to the house and would the younger brother be free and would he want to join in. So it was two brothers he was talking about, not just one.”
