A 19-year-old male has been sentenced to 18 months of probation on Tuesday after being found in possession of 1,282 explicit images and videos of children. To protect the individual’s identity, as he was only 16 years old at the time of the incident, his name remains undisclosed under the Children and Young Persons Act.
In December 2022, the teenager pleaded guilty to a single charge of possessing illegal explicit materials. The prosecution emphasized that the individual was fully aware that his actions constituted a criminal offense. Despite his age at the time of the offense, the court held him accountable for his actions and proceeded with the legal process.
As part of the probation terms, the individual is required to adhere to a curfew from 10 pm to 6 am daily. Additionally, he must engage in 100 hours of community service and attend counseling sessions specifically addressing the offense he committed. These measures aim to promote rehabilitation and prevent future offenses.
To ensure the individual’s compliance with the probation terms, his stepfather has been required to provide a bond of $5,000. This financial commitment serves as a guarantee that the probationary conditions will be followed diligently.
Background
The individual’s involvement in the possession of explicit materials dates back to September 2019 when he downloaded a messaging platform called Kik out of boredom. It was through this platform that he initiated contact with an unknown user who introduced him to adult content involving minors.
The raid conducted by Singaporean law enforcement was prompted by information received from Interpol Ottawa in Canada. Interpol Ottawa had identified a local IP address associated with the distribution of obscene materials involving children.
After establishing contact with the unknown user on Kik, the individual received a link and instructions for downloading explicit material. Subsequently, he downloaded multiple videos and images, including those featuring children. At some point, he shared one of the obscene images with another Kik user, resulting in his suspension from the platform.
In response, he promptly uninstalled the application from his phone out of fear but failed to delete the downloaded material.
During a raid conducted by law enforcement officers on April 29, 2020, at the individual’s residence, incriminating material was discovered on his mobile phone.