Child porn accused in court for bail
2011-03-10 17:59
Pretoria - A bail application by a woman facing child pornography charges will heard by the magistrate who has denied her eight co-accused bail.
The 31-year old woman went to the North Gauteng High Court to stop Magistrate Pierre Wessels hearing her bail application on the grounds that he had already denied the others bail.
However, the high court denied the application in a move the National Prosecuting Authority later said confirmed its view that Wessels had conducted the proceedings properly so far and that the application had no merit.
The woman appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court on Thursday when she was told that her formal bail application would be heard on March 17.
She is believed to be the wife of accused number eight, and was arrested near Hammanskraal in January.
Child porn syndicate
The group face charges of rape, indecent assault, sexual grooming of children and possession, manufacturing and distribution of child pornography.
The eight arrested last year include a grandfather, 58, grandmother, 57, their two sons from previous relationships, aged 34 and 36, the grandfather's brother, 61, and his wife, 42, and their son, who is reportedly mentally disabled. The 26-year-old wife of one of the sons was also arrested.
Six children, aged four and older, were allegedly used in sex movies which were then distributed.
Four other children were removed from the care of the accused and sent for psychological and medical tests.
During the bail applications in January, the court heard that the State was investigating the possibility of a connection with a child pornography syndicate.
The woman's eight co-accused are expected to appear in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court on April 6, when it is expected that a decision will be made on whether to send the case to the regional court.
- SAPA
