The case against nine people facing charges ranging from sexually assaulting children to child pornography was adjourned in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
This was to allow detectives to continue further investigations.
Chris Greyvenstein, who represents one of the nine accused, told Magistrate Pierre Wessels that if the state sought to have the case postponed again for further investigation when they returned on March 10, he would be demanding that the investigating officer take the stand to explain why.
Greyvenstein, who represents a 31-year-old woman who was arrested in late January, said at the last court appearance earlier this month that his client would be seeking asking a high court to review Wessels’ decision not to recuse himself from her bail hearing.
At the time of her bail hearing he submitted that his client would not receive a fair hearing as Wessels had already heard evidence relating to her co-accused and had already denied them bail.
The woman’s eight co-accused were arrested last year and were denied bail early in January.
Charges
Wessels refused the application, finding that it would not have been made had the others been granted bail.
The woman, who is believed to be the wife of accused number eight, was arrested in January near Hammanskraal.
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 are undergoing psychological and medical examinations.
During the bail applications made in January, the court heard that the state was investigating the possibility of a connection with a child pornography syndicate. — Sapa