Moodley, Wilken to spend another week behind bars
The case against a Gauteng couple, facing charges linked to a global child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online network has been postponed.
On Friday Darren Wilken and Tiona Moodley continued their bid to be released on bail.
Wilken was arrested during a police operation at his Midrand home last month, where authorities seized an estimated 10 million pictures and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
The state is opposing bail, citing its claim that the pair unduly benefitted from the illegal sale of CSAM material.
However, Wilken and Moodley’s lawyers argued that the state has relied on speculation and media frenzy to oppose their bail.
The couple, who have been together for a little under three years, have denied the allegations against them telling the court that they neither pose a risk to the state’s investigations, nor do they intend to evade trial.
On Monday, state prosecutor Colleen Ryan read out the investigating officer’s bail statement in opposition, wherein she said Moodley had already attempted to delete evidence linking her to the case prior to her arrest.
Both Moodley and Wilken claim that on the day of his arrest, police handed him his phone to transfer more than 100 thousand rand for her immediate living needs and possible legal fees as they agreed her arrest was imminent.
In her reply, Moodley said she had simply logged out of accounts that didn’t belong to her and deleted conversations, between herself and Wilken, that she didn’t want her family to see. She denied tampering with any evidence.
Her lawyers have alleged that Moodley was the subject of a misogynistic relationship, with Wilken dictating her every move.
She denied any liability for the alleged global child sexual abuse network they were arrested for.
Moodley, a web-designer by profession, admitted she was the creator of the websites in question. However, she says her boyfriend took over uploading the content and managing the related transactions and bank accounts.
Ryan rebutted Moodley’s claim: “She indicated that the first accused was also the controller of SkillsUp. She’s the one that created that business, she’s the one that had control of that business account. Why create a business account if you’re not going to need it? It’s to conceal funds.”
Moodley described herself as a meat puppet of Wilken’s.
Wilken has denied the state’s claim, that he made millions from the alleged sale of child sexual abuse material — insisting he earned 50 thousand Rand from selling stock images and online learning material.
The case has been postponed to Friday, 14 February for bail judgement.
ALSO READ:
