Bail granted in child porn case

A 39-YEAR-OLD Kloof man who was arrested for being in possession of 14 000 images of child pornography has been granted bail of R1 000.

According to the charge sheet the man, who appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday, was charged with possession of the images and contravening the Films and Publication Act.

He cannot be named until he pleads to the charge.

Police spokesman Jay Naicker said the man’s arrest came after an intensive investigation by the Pinetown Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

“They received information that the man was in possession of child pornography. Police obtained a search warrant to search his residence at Old Main Road, Kloof, in August 2014.”

Naicker said the images, which depicted children as young as 3, were found on a memory stick.

He said the man was arrested in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday after the police had completed their investigation.

In court, according to court documents, the man said he was not married, had no children and lived with his brother.

He asked to be represented by a legal aid attorney and said the R1 000 for bail would be paid by his brother.

He told the court that he had previous convictions for drunk driving in 2011 and possession of drugs in 1998.

The State did not oppose the bail application and it was granted by the court with strict conditions.

The man was ordered to surrender his passport and all other travel documents to the investigating officer and report to the Hayfields police station in Pietermaritzburg three times a week.

The case was adjourned to later this month.

Provincial police commissioner Mmamonnye Ngobeni said yesterday that violating children was a “serious offence”.

“It is of great concern when such individuals live in our communities surrounded by innocent children. I appeal to parents to safeguard their children and the parents of the victims should cooperate with police and the prosecution so that the suspects can be convcicted,” said Ngobeni.