More teens contact police about man charged with sexual exploitation of minors

Another three alleged victims - all girls aged around 15 - have contacted the police following the arraignment of a 26-year-old man accused of using fake profiles to blackmail minors, Times of Malta is informed.

The three contacted the police after Gian-Luke Gambin, from Victoria, was charged on 56 counts in the Gozo court. 

The charges include sexual exploitation and corruption of minors, blackmail, and the production and distribution of indecent material.

Gambin has pleaded not guilty.

Fake profile with over 2,000 followers

Times of Malta is informed that the three victims came forward shortly after the prosecution asked for the publication of the accused’s identity and the online alias he allegedly used to target victims: Chris Debrincat.

The three teenagers have provided statements that mirror the accounts given by previous victims.

The investigation is far from over, particularly as one of the ‘Chris Debrincat’ profiles has amassed more than 2,000 followers.

Authorities believe there may be additional victims.

The police are urging anyone with information or who may have been targeted to come forward. 

Reports can be submitted anonymously online or by contacting Police Headquarters directly.

The two sisters 

The court has heard that while reports regarding the ‘Chris Debrincat’ profile date to 2020, it was a recent, disturbing incident involving two young sisters, aged 10 and 12, that led to Gambin’s arrest.

According to the prosecution, the accused contacted the 12-year-old girl on Snapchat and coerced her into sending indecent photos of herself.

Terrified that the images would be made public, the girl confided in her 10-year-old sister.

To protect her sibling, the 10-year-old messaged the account, demanding that he leave her sister alone. The accused allegedly responded with a chilling ultimatum: “If you do not send photos of yourself too, I will publish your sister's photos in the locality.”

The 10-year-old informed their parents, who immediately took both sisters to the police to file a formal report.

During the arraignment, the defence requested bail, but it was denied by the court due to the sensitive nature of the case and the fact that the young victims have yet to testify.

While Magistrate Jean Paul Grech placed a ban on publishing photographs of the accused, it explicitly authorised the publication of both his real name and his online alias.

The judiciary agreed with the prosecution that naming the suspect is in the public interest to help identify other potential victims while investigations continue.

The prosecution is being led by Attorney General lawyers Miriayah Borg and Tilden Tabone, assisted by Police Inspectors Dorianne Tabone, Ryan Vella, and Keith Scerri.

Gambin is being represented by defence lawyers Mario Mifsud and Nicholas Mifsud.