Eight more child pornography charges have been laid against a Surrey man arrested earlier this year as part of a global child porn ring, bringing the total number of charges against the 36-year-old to 16.
The suspect was arrested on January 22, after police received a tip from outside the country that the man had been exchanging photographs and videos depicting sexual abuse of children between the ages of five and 11.
The investigation led to what police are calling the "rescue" of seven local children, an American child and a child from Ontario. Those children had been subject to what the B.C. Integrated Child Exploitation believes is continuous sexual abuse and "disturbing" sadistic abuse.
"Most of the time these kids are groomed by the offender in such a way that they do believe the abuse to be somewhat normal," RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Annie Linteau told CTV News Wednesday.
She said that the children are known to the suspect, but declined to elaborate on the relationship. The children have all been returned to their families.
Including the new charges laid on Wednesday, the accused child pornographer is now charged with offences including sexual assault, possession of child pornography, production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and sexual interference.
The suspect appeared in Surrey court on February 5 and remains in custody. He was scheduled to appear again in court on Wednesday.
Police say that an international investigation into a global child pornography ring connected to the suspect is ongoing, and further arrests are possible.
"We could see additional charges against additional individuals, involving additional children as well," Linteau said, adding that police do not believe any more B.C. children are involved.
