Paris. A French court has sentenced Indian youth Rohan Rane (29) to 20 years in prison in a serious case of sexually assaulting and torturing children by luring them online. His involvement in an international criminal network related to child abuse was revealed in the US, Britain and Canada. This network is accused of forcing children to make videos containing violent and sexual activities.
Gang used to trap children through Discord
According to court documents obtained by The Associated Press, child victims were recruited into the network through the online platform Discord so they could be enslaved by a group called CVLT. The gang was accused of forcing children to make videos related to violent and sexual activities. At least three other members of this group have been arrested in America. The allegations uncovered in the investigation highlight the seriousness of organized crimes targeting children through online platforms.
The court sentenced a maximum of 20 years
Rohan Rane, 29, one of the members of the international online gang, was found guilty of committing acts of sexual assault and torture on a minor, according to Hippolyte Marchetti, a US lawyer representing the five victims. Rane was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence under the charges against him. According to people present in the court, Rane did not react when the court announced his guilty verdict on Friday night. Given the sensitivity of the case involving child abuse, the judges took an unusual step by ordering the trial to be heard in-camera.
The arrest was made in Antibes, France in 2021
Rane, originally from Pune, Maharashtra, was studying in France at that time. Rane was arrested by police in the southern French city of Antibes in 2021, following a tip from US authorities. French authorities decided to complete the criminal trial against him in France before considering extradition. Now after the court pronounces the sentence, the further legal process in this case will be monitored.
Had a serious impact on the lives of the victims
Hippolyte Marchetti, a US lawyer representing the five victims, said the children have suffered serious harm and their lives have been completely shattered. “The victims have been seriously harmed. Their lives have been completely shattered,” said Marchetti, a US lawyer representing the five victims. This case is a serious warning that online platforms can also be used to target and exploit children. According to experts, vigilance towards online activities of children, identification of suspicious contacts and timely complaint play an important role in preventing such crimes.
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