A 35-year-old Edmonton man is facing child luring and child pornography charges after a joint investigation between ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit and Edmonton police that began last October. Read More
”It is our hope that by releasing his photo and the names he used on social media, other victims will come forward and speak with police”
“It is our hope that by releasing his photo and the names he used on social media, other victims will come forward and speak with police”
A 35-year-old Edmonton man is facing child luring and child pornography charges after a joint investigation between ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit and Edmonton police that began last October.
ALERT and EPS arrested the man on April 23 in connection to an investigation into the luring of two Edmonton youths and the sexual assault of a young girl, said ALERT in a news release.
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According to ALERT, the man met the youths online and in one case a young girl was sexually assaulted.
Both victims are getting support from Zebra Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.
ALERT said the man “targeted girls between the ages of 13 to 16″ through social media. He allegedly used several aliases, including ‘hermesthefox,’ ‘FOCKXINDAHENHOUSE,’ ‘Alen Wake,’ ‘Hemi; and ‘Zane.’
“When teens get into trouble online, it is crucial they know to tell someone they can trust,” said Const. Stephanie Bosch with ALERT Internet Child Exploitation unit (ICE) in a release.
“It is our hope that by releasing his photo and the names he used on social media, other victims will come forward and speak with police.”
Heman Palani is charged with three counts of luring a child, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of making child pornography, sexual interference and making sexually explicit material available to a child.
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He was released from custody on 24-hour house arrest and other court-imposed conditions. His next court date is May 27.
ALERT is hoping that any other potential victims or witnesses to Palani’s activities will contact EPS at 780-423-4567. Reports can also be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-TIPS).
“We encourage complainants who have been victimized by Palani to come forward to police,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Singh, with the EPS child protection section.
“We take these offences extremely seriously, and our partnership between the EPS child protection section and ICE allows us to investigate online child sexual exploitation thoroughly and bring the perpetrators of child abuse to justice.”
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