A total of 447 individuals suspected of involvement in child pornography on the “Creative Private Room” online forum have been identified by the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) as reported this Wednesday as part of the bureau’s recent nationwide crackdown.
The identified suspects include those who have recorded, produced, sold, or possessed sexually explicit images involving minors. Of the 447 suspects, 178 have been identified as buyers. While the forum is hosted overseas, the Criminal Investigation Bureau pointed out that all suspects are Taiwanese.
The Taichung District Prosecutors Office formed a task force that mobilized over 350 police officers as they carried out raids in 17 counties and cities across Taiwan. Four main perpetrators suspected of filming, producing, and selling child pornography were detained along with over NT$1 million (roughly US$30,500) in illegal revenue. Officers seized photographic equipment, mobile phones, computers, storage devices, bankbooks, and debit cards involved in the crimes as well as images suspects allegedly tried to hide in online file hosting services.
CIB High-tech Crime Center Director Rufus Lin (林建隆) emphasized that the police has zero tolerance for perpetrators of sexual crimes involving children, and reminded the public that the government will indubitably investigate and punish such criminals to the fullest extent of the law. To potential offenders, the CIB provides the warning: “Don’t think you can’t be caught.”