Australian gets 17 years for ‘horrific sextortion’

A 29-YEAR-OLD Australian man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for one of the largest sextortion cases in the country's history.

Posing as a popular teenage YouTuber, Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed blackmailed hundreds of girls worldwide, many of whom were minors, into performing explicit acts.

Rasheed's predatory tactics involved building trust with his victims before demanding sexually explicit content under the threat of exposing their private information.

Over 250 victims from 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, fell victim to his manipulation.

The Australian Federal Police and the Western Australia Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team conducted a joint investigation that led to Rasheed's arrest. The court heard that Rasheed's victims were subjected to escalating demands, including acts involving family members and pets.

In an Australian Broadcasting Corporation report, Judge Amanda Burrows described the case as "one of the most horrific sextortion cases prosecuted in Australia."

She emphasized the "callous disregard" Rasheed displayed for his victims' distress and the "lifelong trauma" they would endure.

Rasheed will be eligible for parole in August 2033. His sentence serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online predation and the importance of digital safety.(MyTVCebu)

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• #Muhammad Zain UI Abideen Rasheed
• #Sextortion
• #Judge Amanda Burrows