Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed, a 29-year-old Australian man, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for a heinous sextortion scheme that targeted hundreds of young girls worldwide.
Posing as a popular teenage YouTuber, Rasheed lured his victims into a cycle of abuse by threatening to expose their private images and messages to friends and family.
Over the course of several years, he coerced countless girls, many of whom were under 16, into performing increasingly degrading sex acts on camera.
The extent of his crimes was staggering. Rasheed’s victims came from 20 countries, including the UK, the US, Japan, and France.
Australian authorities described the case as “one of the worst sextortion cases” in history, highlighting the “callous disregard” he had for his victims’ suffering.
Judge Amanda Burrows, who presided over the case, stated that Rasheed’s offenses were of “such magnitude there was no comparable case” in Australia.
She noted his involvement in misogynistic “incel” communities online and his enjoyment of watching his victims’ distress.
Despite his victims’ pleas for help and threats of self-harm, Rasheed continued his blackmail.
His actions caused immense trauma and suffering for his victims, many of whom continue to grapple with the psychological effects of his abuse.
Rasheed’s arrest and conviction were the result of a joint investigation by Australian authorities and international law enforcement agencies.
His sentence serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online predators and the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from such horrific crimes.
Source-BBC
