Ninth man charged with historical child sexual exploitation in Wales
A further arrest was made on Friday
A ninth man has been charged as part of an investigation into historical child sexual exploitation in Wales.
Detectives from Gwent Police carried out an operation last week to arrest eight men in locations in Newport, Swansea, London, Birmingham, Lancashire, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute in Scotland.
A further arrest was made on Friday and Mohammed Ramzan, 76, has since been charged with seven offences including multiple counts of rape.
The nine men face 41 charges between them.
Gwent Police said Operation Oak was an investigation into reports made by several women of sexual abuse committed against them as children between 1985 and 1996.
The charges relate to eight victims who were children at the time of the alleged offences.
The men, aged 54 to 76, are all British citizens and are due to appear at Newport Magistrates’ Court on July 24.
Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Tuck said: “We continue to support the victims in this case alongside specialist agencies.
“I understand that investigations of this nature can cause concern in our communities.
“However, it is vital for the victims in this case, and for the integrity of the investigation, that nothing is posted on social media that could affect the court proceedings.
“Anyone who reports child abuse will be taken seriously.
“We urge anyone who has experienced abuse, or who is concerned that someone may be suffering, to come forward.
“We will listen, investigate all offences and make sure you can access the help and support you need.”
Those charged are:
– Mohammed Ramzan, 76, of Newport. His self-defined ethnicity is Asian Pakistani.
He has been charged with seven offences – two counts of rape of a female under 16, three counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16, causing the prostitution of a girl under 16, and conspiring to rape a girl under the age of 16.
– Shafaq Mohammed, 58, of Birmingham. His self-defined ethnicity is Asian Pakistani.
He has been charged with 11 offences – four counts of rape of a female under 16, three counts of rape of a female aged 16 years or over, two counts of aiding and abetting the rape of a female under 16, causing the prostitution of a girl under 16 and causing the prostitution of a woman.
– Syed Mohammad Ashan Taqvi, 65, of Newport. His self-defined ethnicity is Asian Pakistani.
He has been charged with three counts of rape of a female under 16.
– Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Hannan, 54, of Edinburgh. His self-defined ethnicity is British Bangladeshi.
He has been charged with eight offences – two counts of rape of a female aged 16 years or over, one count of indecent assault on a woman aged over 16, three counts of aiding and abetting the rape of a female under 16 or over, and two counts of conspiring to rape a woman aged 16 or over.
– Kevin Lawrence, 54, of Dunoon. His self-defined ethnicity is white European.
He has been charged with three offences – two counts of conspiring to rape a woman aged 16 years or over and causing the prostitution of a woman.
– Sheikh Mohammed Tahir Ullah, 73, of Newport. His self-defined ethnicity is Asian Bangladeshi.
He has been charged with one count of rape of a female aged 16 years or over and one count of rape of a female under 16.
– Aminur Rahman Chowdhury, 58, of Tottenham, north London. His self-defined ethnicity is Asian Bangladeshi.
He has been charged with one count of rape of a female aged 16 or over.
– Shakeel Babur, 58, of Lancashire. His self-defined ethnicity is British Pakistani.
He has been charged with four counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16.
– Murad Ali, 57, of Swansea. His self-defined ethnicity is Asian Pakistani.
He has been charged with two counts of rape of a female under 16.