MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OFFENCES IN NEWPORT
Eight men face a total of 34 criminal charges following an investigation into historical child sexual exploitation.Law enforcement officials detained the suspects from various locations, including Newport, Swansea, London, Birmingham, Lancashire, Edinburgh, and the Argyll and Bute region of Scotland.
This operation, titled Oak, was described by Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Tuck of Gwent Police as a lengthy and intricate inquiry into group-based child sexual abuse in South Wales.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that charges have been authorized, among them 17 counts of rape.
The investigation centers on allegations made by multiple women who claimed to have been sexually abused during their childhood between 1985 and 1996.
Jenny Hopkins, the chief crown prosecutor for Wales, stated that prosecutors had determined sufficient evidence existed to proceed to court and that pursuing criminal proceedings aligns with public interest.
Authorities emphasized that legal action against the accused is ongoing, and they retain the right to a fair trial.
All eight men, aged 54 to 73 years and all British citizens, are scheduled to appear in Newport Magistrates’ Court on July 24.
The suspects are: - Shafaq Mohammed, 58, from Birmingham, charged with 11 offenses, including four counts of raping a female under 16, three counts of raping a female aged over 16, aiding and abetting the rape of a girl under 16, and causing the prostitution of a girl under 16 and an adult woman.
- Syed Mohammad Ashan Taqvi, 65, from Newport, faces three charges of raping a female under 16.
- Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Hannan, 54, from Edinburgh, charged with eight offenses: two counts of raping a woman over 16, one of indecent assault on a woman over 16, three counts of aiding and abetting the rape of females both under and over 16, and conspiracy to rape a woman over 16.
- Kevin Lawrence, 54, from Dunoon, accused of three counts: conspiracy to rape a woman over 16 and causing her prostitution.
- Sheikh Mohammed Tahir Ullah, 73, of Newport, facing charges for one count of raping a woman over 16 and one of raping a girl under 16.
- Aminur Rahman Chowdhury, 58, from Tottenham, charged with a single count of raping a woman over 16.
- Shakeel Babur, 58, from Lancashire, accused of four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16.
- Murad Ali, 57, from Swansea, charged with two counts of raping a female under 16.
