The investigation into a gang of TikTokers suspected of sexually assaulting children in Lebanon and exploiting them for drug use and trafficking has made significant progress. "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat" learned from a judicial source overseeing the investigation that the public prosecutor in Mount Lebanon, Judge Tanius Al-Saghbini, is expected to file charges against the gang's leaders and members in the coming hours, each according to the crimes they committed. Preliminary investigations are set to continue to uncover more individuals involved, both in Lebanon and abroad.
So far, the list of arrests has included nine individuals proven to be involved in criminal acts against children. The judicial source explained that the Cyber Crime Combat Office arrested a taxi driver late Monday who was transporting children from Beirut and other areas to a chalet in the Kesrouan region (north of Beirut), delivering them to gang members who would drug the children and assault them.
The source noted that the number of arrests might increase as new names emerge, especially given significant information about a lawyer's involvement with the gang in luring and assaulting children. The investigation is working on gathering more evidence regarding this lawyer, and Judge Tanius Al-Saghbini has sent a request to the Bar Association seeking permission to pursue the lawyer based on suspicions of his involvement in this case.
Additionally, lawyer Khaled Marab stated on his X account: "As the lawyer for minors Siraj Akturk (Turkish) and Mohamed Al-Hammali (Syrian) through their guardians, and as some individuals are spreading news about my clients being part of a gang, the truth is that the investigation has not yet concluded and no decision has been made about them. They are nonetheless minors and victims. If there is a gang, my clients are its first victims, and we hope to conclude the investigation swiftly to reveal the truth." He added: "We warn anyone who slanders or may slander the minor clients and publishes fabricated news and leaks from the investigation that we will pursue them legally for defamation and breach of investigation confidentiality."
With nearly two weeks passing since the investigation began, the judicial source confirmed the current arrests include nine individuals, among them a hairdresser, the owner of a famous clothing store, and a dentist, with the possibility of the aforementioned lawyer joining them. The judicial source deemed the prolonged duration of the initial investigation justifiable, citing its complex nature that necessitates time, especially since the key figures financing this gang are located abroad. It revealed that investigators are compiling more evidence regarding individuals in Turkey, Dubai, Sweden, and perhaps other countries. Upon completing all data, international warrants will be issued via Interpol for their arrest, or a request for judicial assistance will be made to send a memorandum to interrogate these individuals regarding the alleged crimes and provide the results of those interrogations to Lebanon.
The source suggested that Judge Tanius Al-Saghbini may issue memos requesting the concerned countries surrender the suspected individuals to Lebanese courts for prosecution. The public prosecutor's indictment in Mount Lebanon against members of the TikTokers gang and the referral of the case with the detained individuals to the investigating judge does not mean the end of the preliminary investigations, which are expected to continue until all those connected to this network are arrested.
A closely involved source noted that the investigation is progressing slowly due to intimidation and coercion tactics used against the families of the child victims to prevent them from filing new lawsuits and to hinder the disclosure of more names. The source confirmed to "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat" that there is difficulty in persuading assaulted children to appear before investigators from the Cyber Crime Combat Office due to fear and the psychological conditions they are experiencing. The source, who requested anonymity, acknowledged that the assaulted children face severe psychological challenges needing time to overcome, along with medical follow-up.
The source also highlighted that some suspects denied the accusations against them; however, such denials are not taken into account because they contradict the evidence available to the investigation, including WhatsApp messages, photographs, and videos documenting their involvement, which they exchanged among themselves. Others admitted their crimes, attributing them to actions taken under the influence of excessive alcohol and drug consumption.
