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LAHORE: A man arrested for selling child pornography on Internet disclosed to interrogators that he lured some 25 children into the heinous act on the pretext of imparting them computer education.
The Federal Investigation Agency’s cyber crime wing on Tuesday arrested Saadat Amin, 45, from Sargodha and took his computer and laptop in custody.
On Wednesday, the agency obtained his five-day physical remand from an FIA magistrate.
FIA cyber crime head Deputy Director Shahid Hasan says the scam is “first of its kind” unearthed by the agency in the country.
FIA cyber crime wing unearths sleazy scam
“During interrogation Amin revealed that he had been selling child pornographic content online for the last few years. Amin used to lure children on the pretext of imparting computer education. He even paid between Rs3,000 and Rs5,000 to the parents of the victims, saying that their children would learn computer hardware and software (skills) at his one-room rented workshop in Sargodha,” one of the investigators, Assistant Director Asif Iqbal, told Dawn.
The FIA cyber crime wing launched a probe into the matter on being informed by Norwegian Embassy through a letter that the country’s police had arrested a man in connection with the child pornographic content and that Saadat Amin was one of his accomplices in Pakistan. Working on the information provided by the Norwegian Embassy, the FIA managed to track down the suspect.
A graduate of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila Campus, Amin is a resident of Malak Wal, Mandi Bahauddin. Later, he moved to Sargodha where he indulged in the heinous activity.
“I got connected with James (first name) of Norway on Internet who introduced me to the ‘child porn industry’. He offered me a deal asking me to sell him child pornographic content that I accepted. He would pay me between $100 and $400 for different videos involving young boys. I used to sell not only my own recordings but also the video clips hacked from the servers of Russian and Bangladeshi porn websites to buyers in Norway and Sweden,” the interrogator quoted Amin as having revealed.
Mr Iqbal said so far the FIA had recovered some 65,000 child pornography video clips from the suspect’s possession hacked from foreign websites. “The suspect is a good hacker and also had links with some policemen in Sargodha who often engaged him for preparation of criminals’ record,” Iqbal said, adding he would also approach the victims and their parents to collect evidence against the suspect.
“We are also investigating whether there are any accomplices of the suspect involved in this criminal act,” the investigator said.
Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2017
Comments (56) Closed
Disgusting
Scam??? Rrally, is that what it is?
For once FIA did a good thing, go on with actually charging and punishing the guy, please.
Abdul Basit said - Indians know why this man did what he did
No need to publish such thing so that others may know that this activity provides profit. Person doing this must be punished severely before this business takes rise.
I am impressed the letter from Norwegian embassy was not ignored. Good work FIA! It's time to get down to business.
Nothing will happen.
And yet our official was informed by foreign diplomats of such activities. What our officials were doing during these period. Do we have to be told by others and do nothing of our own initiative?
In Punjab under PML(N) government you can do anything without any fear. The worst province with hinious crimes.
Exemplary punishment according to the law is a must in this case.
Another legacy of retiring IG Punjab's achievements.
Extreme punishment
Every nation should have strong laws & enforcement to protect children and provide them a safe & happy childhood
In Norway we have a lot of focus on this kind of industry. As a police prosecutor, I daily exchange information with other embassies on this topic. I hope we soon will see a child-porn free world.
That's all the reason why Pakistan needs to be first in Asia to introduce 5G Network, so porn like this can be uploaded and distributed faster!!
Such stupidly backward sets of priorities. We have no decent schools for poor kids to attend, hence people like this guy taking advantage of unsuspecting minors and parents...
You need basic elements of a manageable system, before boasting about 5G Network - in a country where you can still find 1960s model Datsun Taxis.
No one cares, no one listens. Crimes are no crimes in Punjab.
this is going on and on whole punjab is doing it police doing nothing . this badman was caught due to norway govt otherwise he was in protection of great police of this country. when things will ever be checked properly other provinces will also show . shame on all concerned .
If those involved in Kasur incident were given exemplary punishments this might not have happened.
Make an example out of him. Strong punishment needed.
Just imagine if this news had come from India what would have been the reaction here on the chat. We need to understand one thing, crime is crime - whether in India or Pakistan. Both sides have similar features hence we should stop commenting on each other, instead we should voice against the crime.
@rahul1: Laws are there, it is the enfocement that is lacking because everyone knows everyone and so the enforcers are approached and/or bribed the criminals are noted the good guys and the victims are told to go home. Justice served in Punjab.
@Mahrukh What did FIA do? Thank the Norweign Agency that informed the sleeping heads of this organisation.FI selfishly takes credit for the bust Norway made.
Shocking! He is a UET graduate. What kind of educatiom this University of Engineering and Technology giving? Its cirriculum needs to be checked.
@ABE our representatives are self appointed, incompetent and utterly useless.
This is a result of illiteracy and backwardness in the country because of the wrong priorities of the leaders. Give him exemplary punishment and warn parents of the risks of sending their children to houses of strangers.
Greed for money drives people to forget about basic morality and humanity
Intelligent man, but used his intelligence for wrong purpose.
Hand over him to kids parents , let them decide his fate.
the most shameful incident! Alas! we are ashamed for having such human animals in our society. This man should be made example for others...
So that's what the apparently top engineering university produced. It's disgusting. Thanks to norwegian authorities for helping FIA get this guy. This is just sick.
oh my GOD! What the human are doing?
Absolutely heinous and unpardonable.
@Saif zulfiqar Corrupt politicians make dysfunctional system through incompetent people who run all important institutions including law and order (police) and this case is a perfect example of it. Look at the facts FIA launched a probe on receiving information from Norwegian Embassy, they (FIA) fall at sleep because “poora mulk chan ke neend so raha hey”, secondly the suspect often helped Sargodha policeman for preparation of criminal records (look like preparing criminal record is rocket science which Sargodha police is incompetent of – Ha-Ha), salute to Punjab govt for their vision.
Sickness overload. Pervert nation!
@Sameer - But 'we' elected these incompetent and useless representatives. So what does that say about us?
@Saif zulfiqar ...Crimes happen everywhere,looks like you have a personal grudge against Punjab hence your hate filled remarks!.
Good job Norway, shame on Pakistani law enforcement agencies that under their nose such a heinous crime was taking place and they did not know about it. This man deserves sever punishments, he lost his faith, his conscious, his e man and he did not take positive advantage of his education and skills and used them for evil purpose.
Put him away forever.
This is the result of Lack of suitable jobs and greed. Economy First should be the first priority of the country. Secondly why sent a letter in today's world ?Very strange .
We are ages behind in awareness about child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence and crores of such issues. It disheartens me to realise that it will take eons for us to become a normal functional society.
The biggest problem in our country is poverty, lack of education... for the mere meager amount of 300-500 one can be lured.. never ask the question why he is being such and angel. it is the civil responsibility of media and the school to make them aware of this heinous crime..No matter what people say or how they react...When we talk with our children about sexual abuse, we are not only taking a proactive step toward protecting them, we are building our relationship with them--grounded in honesty and trust. It's a win-win situation. besides strict laws need to be passed and implemented...
A graduate of UET Taxila! Means an engineer by profession. According to this report, he was dong this to earn money. What ever he did is disgusting,,no justifications. But one can also infer from this that the guy might not have secured a decent job thus he resorted to some this as nefarious as this
@khanm he should be harshly punished
He should be harshly punished and no one should continue such horrible act again
@Sehzat Resul he should be ..no doubt about that but being proactive is better than just being reactive...
This should be punished to it's core! The worst sort of crime committed.
This is not a side effect but the direct and huge unforeseen loss for living and berating conman people.
This is happening because of non-proportionate ,unorganized but exponential rise of multimedia.( $$s for ruling class and their fiends)
What you can do, except cry and highlight their blunders, the people running this country for last 45 years are either puppet or showman with only one target in their mind all the time "accumulation of wealth at any cost", conman people go to hell.
These people deserve BRUTAL punishment infront of PUBLIC
This man should be given the ultimate sentence and soonest. He does not even look pakistani.
Whether in Canada or Pakistan, these type of sickos exist. Parents should be more alert of their children's whereabouts.
Pls don't comment biased remarks against any province. This kind of crime is being committed everywhere regardless of any specific province. We should make our own house in order before accusing others. It is encouraging that culprits are being caught and awareness is spread. Hopefully a day will come by the Grace of God that this kind of crime will be eliminated altogether. We should be careful for those areas which do not raise alarm neither they apprehend this sort of criminals rather it is accepted as a bad culture there. Anyhow! Hats off to Norwegian Agency and yet another awakening call for our agencies.
"Working on the information provided by the Norwegian Embassy, the FIA managed to track down the suspect." Can they do something on their own ?
@Sajid , he could have done some other job if not computers... he is psychic...
@Sajid Not at all . Some people choose to make easy money in short time rather than working hard ! It is just the choice !
Alas we invest our energies on productive thing. This guys could have earned working on a better thing. Must be taken to the task for this heinous crime.
Court have to prove him guilty, not just by his confession by police; if proven guilty, there are laws for such crime in Pakistan court system. Child porn industry people be condemned to most severe punishments exist in Pakistan. No place for such criminals.