Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed, who pretended to be a YouTuber and blackmailed young girls in Australia, appeared in court today. Rasheed, who forced young girls he met to perform sexual acts on camera, was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Rasheed, who had two-thirds of his victims under the age of 16, admitted to 119 charges of abuse in court. Rasheed will be eligible for parole in 2033.
“HE CONTINUED THE BLACKMAIL DESPITE THE CHILDREN’S EXTREME FEARS”
According to the case heard in Pert Court, Rasheed, 29, allegedly threatened 286 people from 20 countries including the US, UK, Japan and France with “obscene messages and images to send to their loved ones”. Rasheed allegedly pretended to be a 15-year-old American YouTube star and chatted with his targets. Many of the children blackmailed reportedly told Rasheed they were suicidal, with one of the victims sending him images of herself harming herself. The judge said Rasheed continued the blackmail despite the children’s “obvious distress” and “extreme fear”.
“THIS KIND OF ONLINE EXPLOITATION CAUSES LIFELONG TRAUMA”
“This man’s disregard for his victims around the world and the distress, humiliation and fear they experience makes this case one of the most horrific abuse cases ever prosecuted in Australia. This type of online exploitation and abuse is devastating and causes lifelong trauma,” Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner David McLean told the court.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy twice in his car in a Perth park. (İHA)