Darren Wilken and his girlfriend Tiona Moodley in the Randburg Magistrate's Court. File Picture: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
Image: Itumeleng English
In a significant stride in the fight against child pornography, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) successfully obtained a court order to preserve cash and assets linked to accused Darren Wilken and his girlfriend, Tiona Megan Moodley.
The legal move follows the execution of a search and seizure warrant by the Cybercrime Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) on January 17, 2025, leading to Wilken's arrest on various serious charges, including manufacturing and distributing child pornography, possession of drugs, and money laundering.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, said the operation, which culminated in the High Court of South Africa ruling on February 17, 2025, came about from a collaborative international investigation involving US law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and the US Secret Service.
Mjonondwane said Wilken allegedly operated a child pornography website, marketing and distributing child sexual abuse material to clients worldwide.
"He operated this 'enterprise’ from residential premises situated in a complex in Midrand, hosting child pornography on a website which contained what is believed to be the largest cache of such found in South Africa to date," she said.
Among the items seized during the search were Wilken’s luxury vehicle, which displayed the brazen registration number “KIDZ NA GP,” high-end electronic equipment, and over R647,000 in cash.
These assets have now become central to the AFU's urgent application seeking their preservation, a step taken to prevent any potential dissipation of these funds linked to criminal activities.
Meanwhile, Moodley was also arrested as an accomplice in the case, facing similar charges alongside Wilken.
Mjonondwane said the duo have since appeared in the Randburg Regional Court where their legal team attempted to secure bail, but the State Advocate successfully opposed the application, leading to a bail denial on February 14, 2025.
"The investigation into the matter is ongoing both locally and abroad so as to protect the rights of children," she said.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
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