The Koprivnica-Križevačka Police Department and the Cybersecurity Service of the Police Directorate conducted a criminal investigation of a 41-year-old citizen from the north of Croatia on suspicion of having committed multiple criminal acts of sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
The Police Administration reported that over a long period of time, the suspect accessed, obtained, stored and shared materials depicting the sexual abuse of children through Internet platforms, thereby committing four criminal offenses of exploiting children for pornography.
He is also suspected of another 11 criminal offenses of exploiting children for pornography, introducing children to pornography and enticing children to satisfy sexual needs. It is suspected that four victims from Croatia were subjected to criminal acts.
Over the years, the man has participated in several international groups to share illegal material using applications with end-to-end encryption. At least 150 people participated in the communication.
A search of the device found more than 200 photos and videos of prohibited content, with the 41-year-old using fake profiles to communicate with victims.
The investigation was launched after a tip from Europol, based on information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) from the USA. They informed the police that a user from the IP address area of Croatia was distributing materials of sexual abuse of children.
The investigation continues to identify all potential victims and collect additional digital evidence.
The police appeal to parents and guardians to monitor children’s online activities and to report any suspicion of abuse to the police or through the Red Button platform, stressing that protecting children from sexual abuse is one of its highest priorities.
(TYPE/Source: Hina/Photo: Illustration)
