A 37-year-old man, Tan Wee Quan James, was sentenced to three weeks in jail on Monday (Dec 16) for his role in moderating nine p*rnography websites.
The court proceedings revealed that Tan not only managed the online content but also instigated his sister to assist him in exchange for a substantial allowance of S$60,000, according to CNA.
Tan pleaded guilty to two charges of participating in a business that publicly exhibited obscene materials, alongside a charge of abetting similar activities.
Seven additional charges of a comparable nature were taken into account during sentencing.
The court was informed that Tan first connected with an individual named Adrian in an online forum in 2010.
By 2012, Adrian invited Tan to partner in operating various p*rnography websites.
Accepting the offer, Tan took on the role of a moderator, which entailed reviewing user-uploaded videos, removing inappropriate content, and monitoring viewer statistics. He began his moderation duties in 2014 and eventually oversaw nine separate websites.
These websites generated revenue by charging fees from viewers and advertisers, with Tan receiving a portion of the profits.
In 2020, he solicited help from his sister to moderate one of the platforms during his busy periods, leading to her involvement until December 15, 2022, when she received the agreed allowance.
The operation came to an abrupt end when police raided Tan’s residence on December 15, 2022, acting on intelligence regarding his activities, as per the report.
During the proceedings, the prosecutor highlighted the need for stringent measures to shield vulnerable individuals, especially the youth, from the adverse effects of online p*rnography. Concerns were raised about the rising addiction to such materials, which have been linked to an increase in sexual crimes among young people.
The prosecutor further argued that Tan’s actions were profit-driven and contributed to the widespread distribution of obscene content.
In contrast, Tan’s defense attorney, Riko Isaac, requested a fine of no more than S$15,000, arguing that Tan’s role as a moderator differed significantly from that of an administrator and that his responsibilities focused primarily on flagging inappropriate content involving minors and animals.
The defense also highlighted Tan’s remorse, his role as the family’s sole breadwinner working as a private-hire driver and freelance web administrator, and his commitment to avoiding future offenses.
Under the law, participation in the business of publicly exhibiting obscene objects carries a penalty of up to three months’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
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