The case against a Port Elizabeth couple who is accused of being part of a syndicate that distributed images of babies being abused will resume in the city’s magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
A 33-year-old man and 22-year-old woman from Westering, are alleged to be part of an international child pornography ring that distributed footage of the rape, torture and murder of babies and newborns.
The woman appeared in the Port Elizabeth magistrate’s court earlier in February.
The man did not appear in court and a warrant of arrest was held over until April 5.
Charges against the couple relate to the importing, possession and distribution of films or publications which contain depictions or descriptions which encourage or promote child pornography or the sexual exploitation of children.
State Advocate Jason Thysse previously told the court that a specialised international unit was also investigating the matter.
At their first court appearance in April last year, the man told reporters that the media was blowing the case out of proportion and did not know the full story. He said people were judging him.
In April last year, the commander of the Gauteng-based Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, Heila Niemand, made a special trip to Port Elizabeth for the couple’s court appearance.
She said that after the arrest of the PE couple, 81 other leads were being followed up internationally.
At the time she said there were already six arrests in Belgium and three arrests in the United States.
– African News Agency (ANA)
