Three people were apprehended on Tuesday, bringing to nine the number of suspects arrested since the start of the investigation into the Tik Tok pedophile ring.
A lawyer, member of Tripoli’s Bar Association, a police officer assigned to the municipality of Bourj Hammoud and responsible for facilitating traffic in front of the United Armenian College, and a cab driver who transported children to a chalet in the Kesrouan region where the children were drugged and raped have been arrested for involvement in the case of trafficking and rape of minors.
This brought to nine the number of people arrested since the beginning of the investigation carried out by the cybercrime office under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities. According to sources quoted by our sister company, Houna Loubnan, the number of arrests is set to rise further, as another lawyer suspected of involvement in the gang has been identified.
“According to the same sources, investigators are trying to gather more evidence about him. The public prosecutor at the Mount Lebanon Court of Appeal, Tanios Saghbini, has asked the Bar Association to lift the immunity of the lawyer in question.”
Judge Saghbini is expected to initiate proceedings against other suspects in the next few hours. The investigation is continuing to identify other people involved in the crime, the sources added.
In judicial circles, it is asserted that “the investigation is complex and requires time, since the instigators and financiers of this gang are located abroad.”
“Evidence is currently being gathered concerning people in Turkey, Dubai, Sweden and possibly other countries. Once this evidence has been collected, either international arrest warrants will be issued against them via Interpol to extradite them to Lebanon, or Lebanon will request judicial assistance so that they can be questioned in the countries where they are located. The results of these interrogations will then be handed over to Lebanon,” the source pointed out.
In the evening, Tripoli Bar Association denied arresting one of its members, emphasizing that there was an “absence of evidence concerning reports that he was involved in the case.”
In a statement, the association decried the fact that “one of its lawyers is exposed to such accusations if they are not formulated in accordance with laws in force,” asserting, “If the involvement of one of the members in this case is proven, we will take necessary measures against him.”
The Tripoli Bar Association also stressed its commitment to “take any measures or decisions likely to expose the members of this gang and hold them accountable in accordance with laws in force.”
Finally, the association affirmed that “laws protecting the rights of children and minors must be strengthened and firmly enforced.”
More than a month ago, the case was referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office by the parents of eight minors who had been sexually abused after being forced to take drugs. As a result of its investigations, the Office succeeded in identifying around thirty people who were part of a network using the TikTok application to “lure” their prey, children under 18. The perpetrators of these despicable acts are not only Lebanese, but also nationals of other countries, to whom the investigation should be extended once the usual formalities have been completed.
Meanwhile, caretaker Minister of Justice Henri Khoury contacted the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Judge Jamal Hajjar, to ensure that the judges of the Juvenile Court are also assigned to the case.
