Barberton couple accused of filming child-pornography of own daughter 7: granted bail

Parents accused of filming child-pornography of own daughter, 7, granted bail -- A Barberton couple were allegedly caught with child pornography with their own daugher. Journalist: Tereasa Ferrari 29 November 2013 ------------------------ NELSPRUIT – By Tereasa Ferrari -- The Barberton couple who are accused of child pornography with their own seven year-old daughter have been granted bail. The couple appeared in the Nelspruit District court this morning on charges of possession, grooming for sexual purposes and manufacturing and distribution of child pornography.The couple were granted bail of R2000 each. Investigating officer W.O Adriaan Odendaal testified that he was not against the bail application for the accused "as they both had fixed addresses and the child was in protective custody of the grandmother". Magistrate Ms Christa du Plessis granted bail on condition that they had no contact with the child and that the investigating officer checked with a social worker that these conditions were been applied. The police spokesman Col Leonard Hlathi had also confirmed that the case has been handed over to the Gauteng Family Violence Child Protection Sexual Offences Unit.This is the same unit currently investigating the principal who was the first in the country to be arrested after Interpol alerted police in a worldwide investigation into a child- pornography ring that originated in Canada. In Tuesday’s Lowvelder, it was reported that the couple were caught with an alleged explicit pornographic video of their seven-year-old daughter on a cellphone. This newspaper interviewed a source close to the case who made startling revelations which will be investigated by Lowvelder. Claims are being made that various high- profile people are involved. The child is still being kept at a safe home. Child Welfare SA White River operations manager Mr Johan Bosch who attended the bail application, said as CWSA White River, they had been following this case since the arrest was made. “ We are horrified by the bail granted in this case taking into consideration the seriousness of the offense and due to the fact that their own child is the victim in this case. "Although the bail conditions state that the accused may not have any contact with their child, we are not convinced that the best interest of the child has been served.” Case was postponed until January 13 for further investigation. http://lowvelder.co.za/38575/parents-accused-child-porn-daughter-granted-bail/ ------------- Barberton SA parents might be involved in international child-pornography ring SAPS spokesman Col Leonard Hlathi confirmed that a seven-year-old girl is in a safe house and that the case has been handed over to the Gauteng Family Violence Child Protection Sexual Offences Unit Tereasa Ferrari 29 Nov 2013 NELSPRUIT – The Barberton couple who will again appear on charges of child pornography in court today, might be linked to an international sex ring. SAPS spokesman Col Leonard Hlathi confirmed that the case has been handed over to the Gauteng Family Violence Child Protection Sexual Offences Unit. This is the same unit currently investigating the principal who was the first in the country to be arrested after Interpol alerted police in a worldwide investigation into a child- pornography ring that originated in Canada. In Tuesday’s Lowvelder, it was reported that the couple were caught with an alleged explicit pornographic video of their seven-year-old daughter on a cellphone.They are charged with possession, manufacturing, and distributing child pornography as well as grooming for sexual purposes. Yesterday this newspaper interviewed a source close to the case who made startling revelations which will be investigated by Lowvelder. Claims are being made that various high- profile people are involved. The child is still being kept at a safe home. This paper spoke to expert Ms Sufran Smith, a lecturer in forensic social work at the North-West University Potchefstroom campus on how this has affected the kid involved in the case.“It is a difficult one to answer on how the child will be affected, as it will differ from every kid and circumstance.” Smith said they would have to do a thorough assessment of to determine the influence of the parents’ arrest. A child of seven may not necessarily know if what her parents did was apparently wrong, but even if she does, it won’t lessen the longing for them. Even children who understand why they have been removed from their parents’ care, miss them.” She revealed that of course a kid is being inconvenienced when he or she is placed in a new home and will, therefore, also miss the familiar environment he or she comes from. “Often, the children have feelings of guilt and think they were removed because they did something wrong.” Smith concluded that these kids have an intense longing to be reunited with their parents, especially when they are placed in the care of strangers. ----