‘Baby porn’ accused in court
A laptop containing thousands of child abuse images and videos was found.
THE mere mention of ‘baby porn’ is enough to send shivers of disgust down any parents’ spine.
It’s little wonder that Pennington people are anxious to learn the identity of a 22-year-old resident who appeared briefly in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court again on Tuesday this for allegedly distributing child pornography, some subjects aged younger than a year.
He has not yet pleaded and as such may not be named. However, the Mail journalist came across him and his grandmother outside the court, looking very pale and thin.
He is currently out on R1 000 bail. The case was postponed until January 11 for further investigation.
His arrest earlier this year was the result of an international investigation – called ‘Cloud Nine’ – into child pornography syndicates operating in the country. At least eight other suspects have been arrested in South Africa.
A laptop containing thousands of child abuse images and videos was found. Among other items seized were a plastic child blow-up doll, five cellphones, two secure digital memory cards, 80 compact discs, two iPads, two desktop computers and two external hard drives.
Various costumes, dresses and panties were also found. The man’s grandmother, with whom he lived, told police that he liked to pretend to be a girl and dressed up as one.
Lt-Colonel Heila Niemand, of the Gauteng Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, said the man was terminally ill.
