Bloemfontein - A Johannesburg man arrested on charges of possession, manufacturing and distribution of child pornography is set to appear in the Bloemfontein High Court on Wednesday where he will face a total of 935 charges, including rape and sexual assault which were added after extensive police investigations.
The man was arrested in Sasolburg in Free State in 2014 in connection with the child pornography charges.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said to date, 19 victims, whose ages range from 10 to 13, have been identified.
Naidoo said further investigations into the suspect were ongoing as police believe there may be more victims.
He was arrested by members of the South African Police Service’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Violence Unit (FCS) based largely in Gauteng, but with a countrywide footprint.
According to Naidoo, his identity cannot be disclosed in order to protect the identities of his victims, some of whom are “close to him”.
“The 43-year-old man’s alleged criminal activities came to the attention of the police after they were picked up by the law enforcement authorities of Australia and Canada, who then informed their local colleagues, whose investigations led them to an address in the Free State,” Naidoo said.
“The suspect was arrested at his workplace in Kew, Johannesburg. His office, home and a storage facility were searched and several items such as cellphones, laptops, tablets, sex toys, pornographic DVDs, magazines, as well as several girls panties were confiscated. He is currently in custody, awaiting trial.”
Naidoo said that while the FCS was encouraged by these arrests, as it would send a clear message to other criminals with the same tendencies, an appeal was made to the parents and guardians of children to look out for any signs of abuse.
“First it is important to know as to who their children are chatting to on their cellphones and computers.
“Some of the signs that a child is being abused are sudden changes in behaviour such as being easily irritable, marks on the body, unusual knowledge and interest in sex and withdrawal from all activities, disciplinary problems. And, most importantly encourage the children to speak out and report these matters to the police.”
African News Agency
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