The DSI collaborated with O.U.R. in a raid to apprehend child porn network

The DSI collaborated with O.U.R. in a raid to apprehend child porn network

            On 14 August 2023, under supervision of Police Major Suriya Singhakamol (DSI Director-General), Police Lieutenant Colonel Phayao Thongsen (DSI Deputy Director-General), assigned Mr. Khemachart Prakaihongmanee (Director of Bureau of Technology and Cyber Crime), and Mr. Yosson Ruangsunngamsiri (Deputy Director of Bureau of Technology and Cyber Crime and Head of Child Sexual Exploitation Crime Center), along with the special case inquiry team, to jointly search and arrest a 19-year-old Thai male university student in Pathum Thani Province, who was found to be involved in advertising and selling child pornography involving minors under the age of 18 on the LINE platform, with prices ranging from 150 to 500 Baht. At least 5,000 of pornographic images and video clips were found, involving minors dressed in school uniforms from elementary to high school levels. The Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) staff also cooperated in this operation.

            The DSI, through the Child Sexual Exploitation Crime Center of the Technology and Cyber Crime Bureau, has investigated this case as Special Case No. 37/2566 and gathered evidence until obtaining an arrest warrant against the aforementioned alleged offender. The alleged offender was arrested in a room in Lak hok Subdistrict, Mueang Pathum Thani District, Pathum Thani Province. He was informed of the facts and circumstances that he engaged in seeking sexual benefits from individuals under the age of 18 by advertising and inviting others to join Line groups to view sexually explicit content, producing and distributing child pornography, and inputting child pornography into the computer system. Subsequently, the alleged offender was informed of the charges, which include possessing child pornography for the purpose of exploitation for oneself or others, distributing child pornography to others, for the purpose of trade or by trade, for public distribution or exhibition, producing, possessing, importing, or causing to be imported into the Kingdom, exporting, or causing to be exported from the Kingdom, transporting, or causing to be transported, or circulating by any means of child pornography, carrying on trade, or being involved in the trade of child pornography, distributing or exhibiting to the public, hiring out of child pornography, in accordance with the Criminal Code, Sections 287/1 and 287/2. The alleged offender also committed the offenses of inputting into a computer system any computer data which is obscene and that computer data may accessible by the public under Section 14 (4) and (5) of the Computer Crime Act B.E. 2550 (2007) and its amendments.

            In this operation, there was a coordinated collaboration with the O.U.R., utilizing 'Hidu,' a police dog and O.U.R.'s first international ESD K9 trained at the Jordan Detection Training Center, to assist in locating electronic storage devices. This is an integration with all sectors to combat the crime of child sexual abuse and the dissemination of child pornography. The exploitation related to child pornography is a crime that is internationally recognized as highly concerning. To protect the welfare and rights of children, if parents or guardians help to monitor the behavior of their children, it will be an important part of protecting them from harm. In this regard, if you have any information or clue about child sexual abuse or the distribution of child pornography, please contact the DSI at 1202 (toll free nationwide). The identity of the informant will be kept confidential.