ABU DHABI // A 70 year old man has been referred to the Criminal Court for visiting child pornography websites, prosecutors said on Sunday.
The man, who was identified as a GCC citizen, has been charged with possessing pornographic material involving juveniles, discovered when police inspected his personal computer and mobile phone.
The defendant argued that he did not know that his actions were illegal and that he entered the website by coincidence.
However, prosecutors were not convinced because to enter the website he downloaded proxy software and said it was clear that he was breaking the law.
Local users are sometimes unaware that they can be caught if they enter foreign websites, explained a judicial source, because such websites are monitored by international policing authorities.
According to the UAE’s cyber crime law, one who intentionally possesses pornographic material involving juveniles using a website or websystem, or any IT method, faces a jail sentence from a minimum of six months to three years, and a fine between Dh150,000 up to Dh1 million.
The defendant argued that he did not share or publish any of the footage, however, prosecutors said the law covers possession of such material as well.
It is understood a number of other visitors to such websites are being questioned by prosecutors as well.
hdajani@thenational.ae
