The Police will be charging four men, aged between 28 and 46, in court on 28 July 2021 for offences of possession of obscene films and transmission of obscene materials through a Telegram group “Sam’s lots of CB Collection”. The Telegram group contained leaked sexual videos and images of women, and these included nude photos, photos of women dressed scantily or in compromising positions, and videos of sexual acts which are exploitative of the women involved as they were circulated on the platform without consent.
The Police received a report against the Telegram group on 24 October 2019 and arrested four men responsible for the upkeep of the channel and the distribution of the obscene contents in the Telegram group on 6 November 2019. Subsequent investigations revealed that three of the men were believed to be administrators of the Telegram group, while the fourth had advertised the sale of the obscene materials.
Following their arrest, electronic devices were seized from the four men, and many obscene materials, including thousands of video files and pictures, were uncovered from forensic examination, which required extensive investigations. Upon the conclusion of investigations, the Police consulted the Attorney-General’s Chambers which concurred in mid-July 2021 to charge all four men with multiple charges of possession of obscene films and transmission of obscene materials under Section 30(1) of the Films Act and Section 292(1)(a) of the Penal Code respectively.
If convicted, the offence of possession of obscene films is punishable with a fine of up to $20,000 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both. The offence of transmission of obscene materials is punishable with imprisonment of up to three months, or fine, or both.
The Police take a very serious view of sexual exploitation of women perpetuated through illegal chat groups such as this, and will take tough enforcement actions. Members of the public are advised not to join illegal chat groups circulating obscene materials, and to report them to the Police.
Source: Singapore Police Force