Child porn - accused wanted help
2010-12-08 22:40
Pretoria - One of the eight people arrested on child pornography charges had tried to get help from social workers as he believed one of the foster children in his care was previously molested, the Pretoria Magistrate's Court heard on Wednesday.
The man told the court he had repeatedly tried to tell authorities about the child's problems but was stonewalled. He had even been to doctors - one of whom recommended that the child be sent for counselling.
He said he was told by social workers that foster parents had no rights.
The court also heard on Wednesday that two children were directed during the making of pornographic videos.
"They told the children what to do during the making of the films," State prosecutor Tanya Carstens read to the court from a statement by investigating officer Tania Lourens.
Medically examined
Lourens said that on October 12 the two children - who had been previously fostered by two of the eight accused - complained about being victims of rape and child pornography.
Both children were subsequently medically examined and the reports indicated they had been abused since a young age.
Forensic investigators have seized large amounts of material from the properties.
Lourens commented on the house of one of the accused: "It looked like it had never been cleaned and... had a strong smell of urine. There was very little food in the house. The income that the accused said he earned from pig farming was inconsistent with the amount of animals on the property."
Two of the women and one of the men shook their heads as Lourens's statement was read out.
Carstens said bail should be denied as the eight would be at risk from the community.
Wednesday was the second day of the bail hearing of the group, aged between 26 and 61, arrested in connection with a string of child pornography charges.
They face charges of rape, indecent assault, sexual grooming of children and possession, manufacturing and distribution of child pornography.
Those arrested included 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 mentally disabled son. The 26-year-old wife of one of the sons was also arrested.
Possible syndicate
According to reports, six children from the age of 4 and older were allegedly used in sex movies which were then distributed.
Four other children have been removed from the care of the accused and are undergoing psychological and medical examinations.
The State is investigating the possibility of a connection with a pornography syndicate.
Advocate Naas de Jager complained to Magistrate Pierre Wessels that the Pretoria News had published photographs of one of the accused, and that although the picture was of the person's back, they were still identifiable to friends and family.
He also complained that some of his clients were not receiving necessary medical treatment while in custody. It emerged on Monday that a number of them had heart and blood pressure problems.
De Jager said the pigs had been removed from the home of one of the accused by the SPCA.
"It looks like a case of severe intimidation," he said, also claiming that the removal of the animals deprived the families of an income.
- SAPA
