One of the men recently arrested for possessing child pornography applied for bail in the Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
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The 56-year-old Garth van West was arrested alongside two other men (Corné Van Rooyen and Shannon Manuel) in Worcester, Kraaifontein and Mitchell’s Plain between 17 and 19 January 2024 as part of a joint operation between the SAPS Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) unit and the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The international operation aims to trace the manufacturers, users and distributors of child pornography.
Van West faces charges of the distribution, downloading and possession of child pornography.
Provincial National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila told IOL that the State intended to oppose the bail application.
The 40-year-old Van Rooyen appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrates Court on charges relating to the distribution and creation of child pornography, as well as the possession of a firearm without a license and neglect of an animal.
Police allegedly found more than 149 000 images of child pornography and more than 5 000 videos in his possession at the time of his arrest. ‘He was found in possession of two unlicensed firearms and various calibre of ammunition, as well as 9 snakes of which three did not have a permit,’ says South African Police Service spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
Van Rooyen is due to appear in court on 30 January for a bail application.
The 32-year-old Manuel also faces charges of owning child pornography, as well as the distribution and downloading thereof, and possible grooming charges.
He was found to be talking to and luring underage girls into chat groups where nude images were exchanged.
His bail application is due to be heard in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates Court on 29 January.
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Picture: Gilles Lambert / Unsplash