Russian pension official arrested over child sex abuse

Russian pension official arrested over child sex abuse

2011-07-21 23:10:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

MOSCOW (BNO NEWS) -- A Russian Pension Fund official on Thursday was arrested in Moscow on charges of sexual abuse of children and organizing a criminal gang involved in child prostitution, a police spokeswoman said.

Police carried out searches on Thursday at the Pension Fund office in southwestern Moscow where the detained official, whose name has not been revealed, was working as a medium-level manager. Police also found the phone numbers of underage girls in his office.

According to RIA Novosti, members of the criminal gang contacted underage girls on social networks and offered them money to take part in pornographic videos. Preliminary data indicates more than 30 girls took up the offer.

"The 41-year-old official also had sex with the girls, although he was aware that they were underage," the spokesperson said.

The official faces up to eight years in prison if found guilty.

More than 9,500 sexual crimes against children were committed in Russia in 2009, including over 960 rapes. Despite the authorities' declared fight against sexual abuse of minors, police are often slow to respond to allegations of child abuse, according to activists.

Russia's ombudsmen for children's rights, Pavel Astakhov, has suggested the existence of a "pedophile lobby" in the country's lower house of parliament, which may be responsible for blocking legislation against child sexual abuse.

However, a recent bill - yet to be passed - introduces life sentence as a possible punishment for pedophiles who are repeat offenders. It also stipulates voluntary medical treatment, including chemical castration, for other rapists.

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