19-year-old Bau student admits to child porn possession, distribution

KUCHING (April 10): A 19-year-old student has pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here today to possessing child pornography materials and participating in a related business.

Judge Iris Awen Jon ordered for the boy to be further remanded until May 12 for mention, pending the preparation of a social report.

He was charged under Section 8 and Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Soaca).

Section 8 carries a maximum 15 years in jail and a minimum three strokes of the cane, while Section 10 provides for an imprisonment term of up to five years, or a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both upon conviction.

He was found to have possessed the materials and engaged in the business at a house in Bau around 9.10pm on Tuesday.

Deputy public prosecutor Asmawi Nur Haqim Mokhtar appeared for the prosecution, while the teenager did not have legal representation.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bau police chief Supt Mohd Haide A Rahman said that police found 936 obscene videos and 4,035 pornographic images in the boy’s smartphone.

Mohd Haide said the teenager is believed to have accessed websites containing adult and child pornography, as well as conducted the sale of such materials via Telegram and promoted them on social media platforms.

He added that the boy admitted to selling the materials as a source of income.