A city-wide operation with international reach bagged five suspects who are now facing charges relating to child pornography. One Roodepoort man was among the suspects who were arrested between 10 and 14 February. Code-named ‘Operation Moonlight’, the sting saw local authorities collaborating with the USA Department of Homeland Security.
The suspect has appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court and was granted bail of R5 000. He cannot be named but he is believed to be the owner of a local crèche. Spokesperson, Colonel Brenda Muridili confirmed, “They cannot be named as the police are still conducting thorough investigations and cannot rule out the possibility that some of the children on the material that has been confiscated might be South African, and therefore their identity has to be protected”.
Also Read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2018/09/20/sex-pest-teacher-to-be-sentenced-today/
Colonel Muridili offered advice on allowing children access to social media saying, “We are appealing to parents to exercise strict measures to ensure their children do not fall prey to sexual predators lurking on the net. It is recommended that parents supervise their children’s access to the internet and social media. It is pertinent for parents to also note that WhatsApp and Facebook have age restrictions of 13 years within their respective terms of services, which prohibits children under 13 years from utilising WhatsApp and Facebook.”
The man will appear in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court again on 8 April.
