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Ex-SDF member among 16 arrested in nationwide child porn sweep

Tokuharu Sugiyama
Tokuharu Sugiyama (Facebook)

OITA (TR) – As a part of a nationwide crackdown on child pornography nationwide, Oita Prefecture on Monday announced the seizure of thousands of illegal images from a former serviceman, reports Oita Broadcasting System (June 8).

Police seized roughly 110,000 images and videos from the home of Tokuharu Sugiyama, a 31-year-old former member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces, who is under prosecution in 13 cases related to the exploitation of children.

The incidents consist of the distribution of pornographic images on the Internet and sexual violation, including breaking into homes and taking obscene films of children.

Police also seized approximately 300,000 illegal images from the residences of three other suspects in Oita.

The arrests are a part of a nationwide crackdown that has netted 16 suspects and resulted in the seizure of two million illegal images in seven prefectures, including Osaka and Hiroshima.