In Lviv, a 48-year-old local resident has been notified of suspicion of sexually exploiting two underage girls and distributing child pornography. For the offences committed, he faces up to fifteen years in prison. This was reported by the National Police of Ukraine and the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the investigation, the man contacted two underage sisters aged 9 and 11 via a messaging app. During their communication, he discussed sexual topics with them and committed lewd acts of a sexual nature against the children.
Law enforcement officers established that the suspect instructed the girls to take photographs and make video recordings of a pornographic nature, in particular to film themselves naked and send these files to him. The man stored the material he received and also distributed it by sending it to other users via messaging apps, being fully aware of the children’s age and the fact that they could not properly understand the nature and criminal character of such actions.
The individual was exposed by officers of the Migration Police Department in Lviv Region together with investigators from Lviv District Police Department No. 1, under the procedural supervision of the Halytskyi District Prosecutor’s Office. On 2 July, he was detained under Article 615 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
The man has been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (human trafficking), Part 2 of Article 156 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (corruption of minors), as well as under Parts 1, 3 and 4 of Article 301-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obtaining access to child pornography, its acquisition, storage, production, sale and distribution). The maximum penalty for the cumulative offences charged is up to fifteen years’ imprisonment, with disqualification from holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to three years.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The court has chosen a preventive measure for the suspect in the form of detention in custody without the right to bail.