Two men arrested by Singapore police after Italy busts international child abuse network
The police were acting on a tip-off from the Italian police, who arrested 17 earlier in the week.
Two men, aged 27 and 33, were arrested by the Singapore police for having or gaining access to child abuse materials, following a similar arrest operation in Italy. This came after Italian police seized 17 individuals as part of an investigation into an international network that distributed child sexual abuse material over the internet. The arrests were confirmed by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on September 19, following information provided by their Italian counterparts.
The Singapore Police Force did not reveal the nationalities of the two arrested men or if they were acquainted. According to the Italian investigation, an undercover officer infiltrated the Telegram group's administration, becoming a co-administrator and gaining access to the group's private channels. The network was managed by four Italians and a Swiss individual.
Dubbed "Fly Trap" by the Italian authorities, the operation exposed a Telegram community named "New Saga," boasting over 1,000 users globally and demanding payments in cryptocurrency. Italian officials traced 996 accounts connected to 98 countries and promptly alerted other nations, resulting in multiple arrests. In Singapore, individuals found guilty of possessing or accessing child abuse materials, who are aware or have reason to suspect the content is harmful to children, face up to five years in prison and potential fines or caning.
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