‘It was a real global effort’: catching Australia’s worst online sexual predator

Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed sexually blackmailed victims in over 20 countries, including Ireland

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Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed (29) sentenced to 17 years in Australia for online sexual abuse. Photograph: Hugh Sando
Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed (29) sentenced to 17 years in Australia for online sexual abuse. Photograph: Hugh Sando

Last week, an Australian man was sentenced to 17 years in prison for what has been described as one of “the worst sextortion cases” in history.

Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed sexually blackmailed young children and teenagers online in more than 20 countries, with at least one victim in Ireland.

Rebecca Trigger from ABC News attended the 29 year-old’s trial earlier this year. In this episode of the In the News podcast, she details the global scale of his crimes and the devastating impact on his young victims.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast