A Buddhist monk has been arrested by the Social Media Crime Investigation Unit of the CID's Computer Crime Investigation Division for his involvement in selling explicit images of young girls through social media platforms.
The investigation was initiated after authorities received information about an individual engaged in the wholesale distribution of nude photos of girls in the Ragama area. As the inquiry progressed, it was revealed that the suspect was conducting transactions using cryptocurrency.
Upon reaching the Ragama to further probe the suspect, the police made a startling discovery - the illicit operation was being operated from within a temple in the vicinity. The mastermind behind the racket was none other than a 19-year-old monk residing in the temple.
During the course of the investigation, the police seized over 1500 explicit images of both local and foreign girls, aged between 7 and 18 years old, from the suspect's computer.
Police said approximately 80% of these images depicted girls under the age of 10. The suspect had been collecting these images from various social media networks and applications, which were originally shared by other individuals, and subsequently selling them.
The arrested suspect is set to be presented before the Colombo Magistrate's Court.
