Seized Telegram channels revealed identities of minors, Police vow action

Maldives Police Service has revealed that the Telegram channels which were discovered to be selling pornographic materials of women and children also revealed the identities of the minors.

Cyber ​​crime investigator Azeef Abbas said today in a press conference held to provide information of the bust that the channels had posted photos and videos of children in a way that would reveal their identity.

"Most unfortunate thing is, we noticed that Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) of children below 18 years of age were also posted. And the biggest detriment we noticed was that photos and videos were revealed in a way that revealed the children's identities.

Azeef also revealed that the photos and videos were posted on Telegram after threatening and warning the victims. These content also included photos and videos of child sexual abuse, he said.

Police investigations have found that the three individuals arrested in the crime operated 43 channels that only contained child pornography. Police had earlier said that the Telegram channels had more than 300,000 photos and videos of women and children as well.

The three individuals arrested in the case are Zubair Ali (ADh. Mahibadhoo), Nasif Ali (Malé Registration Number 14751), and Ismail Rabeeh (K. Kaashidhoo). All three are currently in remand for 15 days.

Azeef detailed that evidence collected from Zabeeh's phone also revealed that had committed multiple other crimes including scams. The financial interactions of these scams were carried out through Nasif Ali, he said.

Further, Zabeeh's involvement in the crimes include posting child pornographic content from his phone into these channels, Azeef explained.

"It was noticed on his phone that in this case and in this ongoing case, Zubair Ali had attempted to explain these things to other people as well," he further detailed.

"It was identified that Zubair Ali had an interest in child pornographic photos and videos, and that he talked to people via these channels to obtain such content."

He went on to reveal that when victims asked to remove their content from channels, Zubair demanded money and sexual favours in return.

Police previously said that along with the three who were arrested, authorities have seized and searched a total of 14 electronic devices. Nine Telegram channels opened in their names have also been seized by police.

An additional 571 pornographic Telegram channels have also been seized by Maldives Police Service now.

According to authorities, 34,680 individuals had paid to subscribe to these channels, having paid over MVR 2 million.

Azeef assured, while answering a member of the press, that there is a legal framework to make the subscribers legally accountable.

"We will not hesitate at all to take necessary action against such individuals," he said.

He detailed that Police are in discussion with the Prosecutor General's Office to take action against those who subscribed to the channels and shared the photos.