AHMA AL MAHAMID AND SAOSAN GHOZLAN FROM ALNESS ESCAPE PRISON WITH INTERNET RESTRICTIONS AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Alness, a couple originally from Syria, Ahma Al Mahamid, aged 50, and his wife Saosan Ghozlan, aged 43, faced the consequences of their involvement in possessing indecent images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. The incident dates back to December 16, 2021, when police in the Highlands conducted a raid on their residence in Milnafua, Alness, following intelligence suggesting they were involved in the distribution and possession of such illicit material.

Both individuals appeared before Inverness Sheriff Court to face charges related to their possession of these disturbing materials. They pleaded guilty to each having indecent images and videos of children on their mobile devices. The court was informed that the couple had fled Syria seven years prior, seeking refuge in the United Kingdom. Since their arrival in 2016, they had initially settled in various temporary accommodations, including Wick, before eventually moving to Glasgow. However, due to the seriousness of their offenses, their circumstances changed significantly.

Prosecutor Robert Weir outlined to Sheriff Gary Aitken that police had received credible intelligence indicating the couple's involvement in the possession and potential online sharing of the illicit content. Acting on this information, officers executed a search warrant at their home, where they confiscated their mobile phones. The devices revealed a disturbing collection of child sexual abuse material. On Ahma Al Mahamid’s phone, investigators discovered five videos, categorized as two in the most severe Category A, two in Category B, and one in Category C. Additionally, there were two inaccessible videos, one in Category A and the other in Category B, each lasting approximately one minute and seventeen seconds.

Saosan Ghozlan’s phone contained two images each in Category A and B, along with two inaccessible images in Category C. The device also held three videos classified as Category A, further emphasizing the severity of the material found. The evidence presented to the court painted a disturbing picture of the couple’s involvement in the possession of child exploitation content.

In light of their guilty pleas, the court opted for a community-based sentence rather than imprisonment. Both individuals were handed a community payback order, which includes restrictions on their internet usage for the next nine months. This measure aims to prevent any further access or distribution of such harmful material while allowing the couple to remain in the community under supervision. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such offenses are regarded, even when offenders are granted leniency through alternative sentencing options.