Accused blackmailer faces more charges over young girls’ online sex acts

Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed is accused of blackmailing girls as young as 11 into performing sex acts in online chats.

Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed is accused of blackmailing girls as young as 11 into performing sex acts in online chats.

When the Perth man came to the attention of US Homeland Security and Interpol in 2020, Australian police identified 112 young victims. After further examination of what they allege are Mr Rasheed’s prolific online activities, he will on Friday face court charged with 317 offences against 285 girls in Australia and overseas.

The investigation, by Australian Federal Police and West Australian Police, is ongoing.

Mr Rasheed, 25, is accused of pretending to be a teenage social media celebrity to befriend girls online.

He allegedly asked sexually explicit questions then edited the written chat to change the girls’ answers. Police allege he would threaten to send screen shots of the doctored conversations to their friends and family if they refused to provide nude photographs or perform sexual acts live on camera for him and others to watch. Police will allege when a victim complied with his demands, he would record the sexually explicit behaviour and threaten to release it to people they knew unless they performed more extreme behaviour.

AFP Detective Senior Constable Barry Duman, from WA’s specialist team of child exploitation investigators, reviewed the evidence in Mr Rasheed’s case and said it was heartbreaking to see the girls’ distress and fear.

“We will never give up our fight to keep children safe and we urge parents and carers to help us by talking to children about what platforms, apps and games they are using and reminding them never to reveal personal information to any ‘friends’ they meet online,” he said.

“Supervision is not only critical to prevent an incident occurring, but can also help adults to quickly take action if something goes wrong.

”If your child is or has been a victim, reassure them that it’s not their fault and that there is help available – children and young people are never to blame for being a victim of online child sexual exploitation.”

The charges against Mr Rasheed, who is in custody, include multiple counts of compelling a victim to engage in sexual behaviour and performing acts in preparation for engaging in sexual activity with a person under-16.

He is also accused of multiple counts of using a carriage service to menace or harass.

Police will allege Mr Rasheed had online conversations with other people about the offences they say he committed.

WA police officers say they are working with international law enforcement partners and social media companies to try to identify the girls targeted, to check on their welfare and provide support.