A joint international operation led by the SAPS Serial and Electronic Investigations (SECI) Unit and the United States Department of Homeland Security has resulted in the arrest of several suspects, including a British national, involved with online child sexual predation across South Africa.
On Thursday, a fourth suspect, a 43-year-old man, was arrested at a flat in Umbilo. He was found in possession of thousands of images and videos of child pornography.
National SA Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said this was the latest arrest in a series of arrests across the country, including Gauteng, in the past week.
“He forms part of the 27 online child sexual predators that have been identified in South Africa by a joint international operation led by the SAPS Serial and Electronic Investigations (SECI) Unit and the USA Department of Homeland Security. Three others were arrested across Gauteng in the past week. These men are allegedly involved in the possession, distribution, manufacturing, accessing and downloading of child pornography,” said Brigadier Mathe.
She said the suspects had been identified after several months of investigation and planning by SECI.
“The first suspect was arrested in Springs. The 63-year-old British national was found to have been in South Africa illegally and faces charges related to bestiality, where police seized material of him allegedly having sexual intercourse with a dog,” said Brigadier Mathe.
He further faces charges of possession, distribution, accessing, downloading, facilitating, facilitating the distribution and making available child pornography, exposure of a child to adult and child pornography and grooming of a child.
“The second suspect is a 43-year-old man from Benoni charged with offences relating to child pornography while the third is a man from Krugersdorp, also aged 43,” Brigadier Mathe said at the time.
She added that three children involved, as well as the dog, had been rescued.
“The trio has already appeared before various courts including Springs, Benoni and Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng. Their cases were postponed for further investigation and bail applications,” she said.