KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 — Four individuals, including a civil servant, were arrested, and over 50,000 pieces of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) were seized during Operation Cyber Guardian.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the operation took place between February 24 and March 28 across various locations in Selangor and Penang.
It was conducted with authorities from several countries, including Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore.
"In Malaysia, the operation occurred in Kajang, Ampang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, and Shah Alam in Selangor, where four arrests were made, including one involving a civil servant.
"In Penang, the operation was carried out in the Timur Laut district," he said during a press conference at the Federal Police Headquarters in Bukit Aman today.
The operation involved 46 Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) personnel, with assistance from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and technical support from the PDRM K9 Detection Unit to trace electronic devices.
Ayob said the suspects, aged between 26 and 49, also included an accountant, a web designer, and the protégé at a telecommunications company.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects used electronic devices to access and obtain CSAM online through peer-to-peer sharing before distributing the material via Telegram groups and storing it for personal use.
He said that most CSAM content is downloaded and stored on electronic devices, including hard drives, mobile phones, desktop computers, laptops, and tablets.
"The case is being investigated under the Child Act 2001, the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), the Penal Code, and other relevant laws in force," Ayob said.
Four investigation papers were opened under Section 10 of Act 792 for accessing CSAM and Section 293 of the Penal Code for possessing obscene materials.
One of the suspects was recently charged in Petaling Jaya under Section 292 of the Penal Code and fined RM3,000 after pleading guilty. He will also face charges under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act.
"In Shah Alam, another suspect was fined RM6,000 after pleading guilty under the same section, while two other investigation papers are pending forensic reports," he said, adding that the joint operation across six countries led to the arrest of 435 individuals involved in the distribution of CSAM.
— Bernama
