Disclaimer: This article contains mature subject matters related to child abuse, pedophilia, sexual assault, and violence. Reader’s discretion is advised.
Lebanese authorities have arrested six suspected members of a pedophile gang, including three minors who are influencers on TikTok, officials told AFP on Thursday.
According to several Lebanese media outlets, the main suspect is George Moubayed “a hairdresser who became a celebrity on TikTok,” who allegedly belongs to a gang of drug traffickers and child rapists,” says local TV station al-Jadeed.
The reports said that the infamous TikToker took advantage of his social media fame to lure minors to his barbershop, telling them that they would appear in social media videos while having their hair cut by him. This is one of the many ways that the gang used in order to deceive the minors online.
Reports have also said that “the suspects have documented the acts of rape, then made the victims watch the videos, and blackmailed them, threatening to post the footage online if they spoke out.” They also blackmailed them to get the minors to come back and bring their friends.
The identity of the head of the gang that allegedly lures and rapes minors has been revealed.
Paul Mouchi, known as Jay, was born in 1993 and formerly resided in Sweden. Jay and his partner Peter Nafaa allegedly started the gang to exploit minors and take advantage of them using the app “TikTok”.
Jay allegedly sells the videos that document raping these minors on the dark web, he also spent over $1 million on the promiscuity parties after which the act of rape is carried out.
Jay is allegedly one of the primary operators of one of the largest betting groups in and outside Lebanon. He also has a long history of hacking and using the dark web.
Paul Nafaa’, known as Steven, allegedly abuses and beats his victims after and even while raping them. Paul has fled to Dubai.
According to reports, the gang comprises 30 members while 30 children have been molested, with the parents of only eight of them filing complaints. So far, only six suspects have been arrested.
Many of those who are members of this remorseless gang are still fugitives from justice. “The investigation is ongoing… and work is underway to arrest all of the gang members,” the police said.
Journalist Radwan Mortada stated that one of the minors involved in the TikTok-related case took his own life due to blackmail, while another, despite battling cancer, was compelled to use drugs, resulting in his death.
The families of the deceased have pressed charges against the arrested gang.
This incident has led Lebanese people to push the government to take serious actions towards banning TikTok in Lebanon. At the same time, the Beirut Bar Association urged its members to refrain from using the application.
