Three individuals charged with operating 571 Telegram channels to sell explicit photos and videos for financial gain have been sentenced.

Following a special operation conducted by the Police Cyber Crime Centre into the creation of multiple Telegram channels used to post and commercially profit from explicit media featuring local and foreign individuals, authorities arrested Zubair Ali (45, Bahaaruge, ADh. Mahibadhoo), Nasif Ali (46, Dhaftharu No. RS 14751 / K. Malé), and Ismail Rabeeh (29, Silinco, K. Kaashidhoo). Zubair and Nasif were arrested on August 10 and August 20, 2024, respectively.

Police revealed that the channels contained 241,651 explicit photos and 86,618 explicit videos of Maldivian women, including material depicting minors under the age of 18.

Following the arrests, police searched 14 digital electronic devices linked to the case, and seized and shut down nine Telegram accounts registered under the suspects' names.

Among the trio, Zubair Ali was charged with two counts of possession of pornographic material, one count of disseminating pornographic material, and one count of money laundering. Rabeeh and Nasif were charged with money laundering.

All three defendants admitted to the charges and entered into plea agreements in court.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, the Criminal Court sentenced Zubair Ali to 18 days imprisonment for the first count of possessing pornographic material, 9 days imprisonment for the second count, one year and six months imprisonment for disseminating pornographic material, and two years and six months imprisonment along with a fine of MVR 600,000 for money laundering.

Nasif was found guilty of money laundering under his plea agreement and sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment, alongside a fine of MVR 263,232 to be paid to MIRA within six months. Rabeeh was likewise convicted of money laundering under his plea agreement and sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment, alongside a fine of MVR 100,000 to be paid within 12 months.