Okaz/Saudi Gazette

ABHA — The security authorities in Asir Region have arrested a Saudi in his twenties for using his personal account on a social networking app as a means to lure and harass children. He used immodest language and also bragged about his shameless acts.

According to Asir Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Zeid Al-Dabbash, several video clips were in circulation as a result of which the citizen was arrested, taken into custody and regulatory measures were taken against him in preparation for referring him to the Public Prosecution.

Meanwhile, an official source at the Public Prosecution announced that the competent department has started procedures against the person who appeared in a video clip that went viral on the social media. The clip revealed the person’s intention of luring minors for evil purposes.

The pedophile used words, deeds and signs having sexual connotations and immodest implications directed towards minors. Hence, he used one of the programs on the social media to embellish an immodest act.

Competent authorities apprehended him after a period of discreet surveillance. The arrest warrant was issued based on the results of the surveillance by the Prosecution Monitoring Center.

The source confirmed that with the appearance of the defendant mentioned in the investigation procedures, he was informed of his rights guaranteed by the law, subjected to a detailed investigation, and an arrest warrant was issued to nab and detain him, pending looking into the case.

The source said that the production of what would prejudice public morals and circulating it via the social media is deemed a major crime that necessitates detention. The penalty for such a crime reaches five years in prison and a fine of SR3 million, according to Article Six of the Cybercrime Combating Law (Anti-cybercrime Law?).

Moreover, the regulation for combating child harassment and the child protection law stipulate a sterner penalty for such crimes.