A former Buddhist monk, Sak Visoth, was arrested in Cambodia on multiple charges of child abuse and exploitation, shedding light on rising online child exploitation.

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] former Buddhist monk, Sak Visoth, 27, has been arrested in Cambodia following a comprehensive investigation into his involvement in aggravated rape and the production and distribution of sexual abuse materials involving children.

The arrest, made on December 13, marks a significant step in addressing the growing online exploitation of children in the country.

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Visoth, a former Facebook influencer, was detained by Task Force LIMA24, a specialised joint task force made up of Cambodian authorities and international partners, including US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The investigation, led by the Cambodian National Police Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department (AHTJPD) and the Child Protection Unit (CPU), has unveiled the horrific crimes committed by the suspect.

Authorities uncovered that Visoth targeted young novice monks in Battambang and Siem Reap provinces, where he produced explicit child sexual abuse material involving Cambodian children.

The suspect then uploaded these images and videos to the internet. During his arrest, police seized professional-grade recording and video equipment, confirming the scale of his exploitation.

The CPU’s director, James McCabe, praised the swift response from Cambodian authorities, HSI, and the Ministry of Interior, highlighting the importance of collaboration in tackling online child exploitation.

“This individual posed a significant threat to children,” McCabe remarked. “If you produce images of child abuse material and upload them to the internet, YOU WILL be caught and YOU WILL be investigated.”

The investigation has identified eight victims, aged between nine and 14 years old, but authorities believe more victims may be uncovered as digital forensic analysis continues.

With devices seized from Visoth’s residence, the ongoing investigation underscores the increasing threat of online child abuse in Cambodia.

Since 2019, Cambodia has taken proactive steps to address this issue with the establishment of the CPU’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) team.

This unit has led over 100 investigations and is dedicated to fighting online child abuse and bringing perpetrators to justice.

As Cambodia faces a troubling rise in online crimes targeting children, the CPU has warned that internet-enabled child exploitation is an emerging threat.

The recent investigation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from predators online.