CHILD PORN OU GETS 12 YEARS

A KRAAIFONTEIN has been sentenced to 12 years’ direct imprisonment by the Blue Downs Regional Court on child pornography charges. 

Corne van Rooyen pleaded guilty to 10 serious offences, including the possession and distribution of child pornography, illegal firearm and ammunition possession, animal cruelty, and contravening environmental protection laws.

The man in his early 40s admitted to downloading and distributing hundreds of images and videos of sex acts with minors, while also being in unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition, and protected species,

His sentencing on Monday comes after a plea and sentencing agreement with the State.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that Van Rooyen used the Viber mobile application, under the username “COME,” to share the vieslike content with other users.

Ntabazalila says: “He downloaded 453 images and videos of child pornography to store on his cell phone and other devices.

“When online, he broadcast his collection of child pornography to other users.”

His criminal activity was exposed through an international collaboration with the United States Department of Homeland Security (HSI), which infiltrated the Viber platform and identified Van Rooyen as an active participant in online child sexual abuse networks.

A raid on his home on 18 January 2024, uncovered a 12-gauge Astra shotgun and a 9mm short Beretta firearm, along with ammunition. 

He admitted to purchasing the weapons illegally for R1 000 and failing to register or disable them as he had claimed.

In addition to the child pornography and firearms charges, Van Rooyen was convicted of animal cruelty. Authorities found two undernourished dogs, three snakes, and several fish on his property. One of the dogs, a pit bull, had been tied on a short rope without shade.

Although sentenced to a total of 49 years across all charges, the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 12-year imprisonment. 

His name has been entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders, and he has been declared unfit to possess a firearm.