New Details About the Suicide of a Minor Who Was Subjected to Sexual Abuse, Extortion, and Threats

The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division has issued the following statement: "After a series of arrests conducted by the Cyber Crime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau within the Judicial Police Unit, concerning individuals involved in cases of sexual assaults on minors, information was gathered by the father of the minor (A.R.) who committed suicide on May 1, 2024, regarding his son's suicide. Through the follow-up and investigations carried out by the aforementioned bureau, it was revealed that the minor had been raped by A.K. (born in 1979, Lebanese), nicknamed "APPO," who owns a clothing store in Bourj Hammoud. The victim received three voice messages via WhatsApp containing threats sent by his minor friend (A.R.), a Lebanese, using a mobile phone belonging to a third minor named (M.J.). It was found that (A.R.) had been lured to the clothing store by (A.R.), the victim, after he had previously been subjected to rape and extortion by an individual named (B.N.), nicknamed "STEVEN," as well as by "APPO." The two minors who lured him were (M.H.), a Syrian national, and (M.A.), a Turkish national, both of whom work at the clothing store belonging to "APPO." It was also revealed that the victim (A.R.) had been extorted by the individual nicknamed "STEVEN." All individuals named above have been arrested, except for (B.N.) aka "STEVEN," who is currently outside the country, for whom a search and investigation warrant has been issued. The detainees have been placed in the custody of the relevant judiciary."