32-Year-Old Man Demands Money to Not Publish Naked Photos of 12 and 10-Year-Old Children

In the investigative department of the Syunik Regional Investigation Committee, the preliminary investigation into a criminal case against a 32-year-old man for committing lewd acts against 12 and 10-year-old children, extortion, and possession of pornographic materials has been completed.

As a result of necessary investigative and procedural actions carried out during the pre-trial proceedings, significant circumstances of the events have been clarified. Specifically, the investigation established and substantiated that the 32-year-old man, fully aware that the person he had met online was a 12-year-old girl, hid his true identity and intentions, presenting himself as a peer girl. With the motive of satisfying his sexual desires, he deceitfully demanded that the girl perform actions that aroused his sexual instincts through a page registered on the TikTok social network, forcing the child to photograph, videotape, and send all of it to him.

In compliance with the man's demands, the girl sent the photos and videos via Instagram and Viber applications. Subsequently, using the threat of publishing humiliating information about the child, he demanded that her father transfer money to his accounts on the “Totogaming” gaming website and “IDram” electronic wallet. To make the threats seem serious, before receiving the money, he published a semi-nude photo of the girl on the TikTok social network, which he deleted after obtaining the payment.

During the pre-investigation, data were obtained regarding other criminal manifestations committed by the mentioned man. Specifically, the investigation also found and established that the same man, fully aware that the person he met through TikTok was 17 years old, and her brother was merely 10 years old, had involved them in an imaginary game claiming that rewards would be given for fulfilling the requirements of the said game. The brothers, following the rules of the game presented to them, performed lewd acts, photographed, and recorded them, sending the materials through Instagram and Viber to the man, who kept them on his mobile phone and demanded money from the older brother with the threat of publishing humiliating information.

However, upon seeing that the teenager refused to pay the demanded amount, he called him, identified himself as a police officer, and stated that the organizer of the game from TikTok had approached him regarding a violation of the rules and demanded money from him to withdraw the complaint.

Based on a sufficient combination of evidence, the 32-year-old man has been charged under the 2nd part of article 142 of the RA Criminal Code, points 3, 4, and 6, the 2nd part of point 2 of article 142, the 1st part of article 182 (2 episodes), and article 263 of the 2nd part. A preliminary detention has been chosen as a measure of restraint against him. The preliminary investigation has been completed, and the criminal case has been sent to the supervising prosecutor with a request to confirm the accusatory conclusion and forward it to the court.