A 52-year-old man – one of 27 people across SA who are allegedly part of a group of online child sexual predators – appeared in the East London magistrate’s court yesterday where his case was postponed pending a report.
The outstanding age determination report of the alleged minor victims also delayed the matter in May.
The film and publications board was asked by the state to determine the ages of the victims.
The suspect, from Quigney, East London, was arrested in March in a crackdown on online child sexual predators in SA in a joint operation between the electronic crime investigations head office (Seci) in the Eastern Cape and the department of homeland security investigations of the US embassy.
Police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu said at the time the man’s arrest formed part of an ongoing operation targeting online child sexual abuse predators. Police said hundreds of child pornography images were allegedly found on his devices by a forensic investigator.
During the operation – which started more than a year ago – cellphones, laptops and various storage devices were seized. This was after SA law enforcement authorities were informed of the existence of the group by the US.
The man faces charges of possession of child pornography, as well as of downloading, viewing and accessing the material.
During a brief appearance yesterday, senior state prosecutor, advocate Vuyokazi Sam, said there were hiccups in getting the age determination.
Dressed in a grey track top and black track pants, the accused was in the company of relatives. He is represented by attorney Andre Schoombie, who said he was in agreement for the matter to be postponed to a later date.
Sowetan's sister paper The Dispatch understands the 27 people – some of them from the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and one from Gqeberha – are not linked and the alleged victims are from different countries.
They are all people who allegedly went online and watched and downloaded material on illegal websites.
The man will be back in the dock on August 29 and remains out on R5,000 bail.
Among his bail conditions is that he must report to the East London police station once a week between 6am and 6pm on Saturdays or Sundays. He must not visit or take part in any online groups, chat groups or websites pertaining to children, and he must not interfere with the ongoing investigations, directly or indirectly. – DispatchLIVE
Age verification of victims delays child porn case
Group of online sexual predators bust
Image: 123RF/loft39studio
A 52-year-old man – one of 27 people across SA who are allegedly part of a group of online child sexual predators – appeared in the East London magistrate’s court yesterday where his case was postponed pending a report.
The outstanding age determination report of the alleged minor victims also delayed the matter in May.
The film and publications board was asked by the state to determine the ages of the victims.
The suspect, from Quigney, East London, was arrested in March in a crackdown on online child sexual predators in SA in a joint operation between the electronic crime investigations head office (Seci) in the Eastern Cape and the department of homeland security investigations of the US embassy.
Police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu said at the time the man’s arrest formed part of an ongoing operation targeting online child sexual abuse predators. Police said hundreds of child pornography images were allegedly found on his devices by a forensic investigator.
During the operation – which started more than a year ago – cellphones, laptops and various storage devices were seized. This was after SA law enforcement authorities were informed of the existence of the group by the US.
The man faces charges of possession of child pornography, as well as of downloading, viewing and accessing the material.
During a brief appearance yesterday, senior state prosecutor, advocate Vuyokazi Sam, said there were hiccups in getting the age determination.
Dressed in a grey track top and black track pants, the accused was in the company of relatives. He is represented by attorney Andre Schoombie, who said he was in agreement for the matter to be postponed to a later date.
Sowetan's sister paper The Dispatch understands the 27 people – some of them from the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and one from Gqeberha – are not linked and the alleged victims are from different countries.
They are all people who allegedly went online and watched and downloaded material on illegal websites.
The man will be back in the dock on August 29 and remains out on R5,000 bail.
Among his bail conditions is that he must report to the East London police station once a week between 6am and 6pm on Saturdays or Sundays. He must not visit or take part in any online groups, chat groups or websites pertaining to children, and he must not interfere with the ongoing investigations, directly or indirectly. – DispatchLIVE
Pensioner preparing to bury loved one robbed, raped hours before funeral
Man out on bail for raping elderly woman (83) arrested for rape of another pensioner
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos