Subscription packages and cryptocurrency transactions | Child-porn accused couple's case heads to Gauteng high court
As the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Johannesburg prepares to hear the chilling case against a couple accused of operating an extensive child-pornography distribution ring, disturbing new details have surfaced.
Court documents outline how the pair allegedly structured and sold a range of subscription-style packages, offering varying levels of access to exploitative material—revealing the calculated, commercial nature of the crimes they are accused of.
This week, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the matter between Darren Wilken and Tiona Moodley would be transferred to the High Court after State Advocate Colleen Ryan formally read the charges into the record and served the indictment.
The pair face charges including, possession of child pornography, offering for sale of child pornography, distribution, transmission and sale of child pornography, cyber fraud, unlawful possession of a data device, unlawful interception of data, possession of drugs and money laundering.
Wilken was arrested on January 17. AT the time, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, said Wilken’s takedown was through a collaborative international investigation involving US law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and the US Secret Service.
Moodley was arrested on January 23.
Court proceedings thus far revealed how the couple lived a lavish life, including an overseas trip to Phuket in Thailand and Wilken owning three vehicles, including a BMW with the registration plate reading, ‘Kids NA-GP’ as well as a VW Golf and a Nissan NP200.
The court also heard how they allegedly transferred thousands of rands between their various accounts, with Moodley, a web designer, managing the different websites from which ‘buyers’ could purchase images and videos of children being sexually assaulted and/or abused.
The State revealed that despite Wilken’s unemployment status, between 2023 and 2024, one of his accounts had a credit turnover amounting to millions of rands. The State said one of Wilken’s accounts received more than R500,000, which is derived from a possible cryptocurrency transaction.
The matter has been set down for February next year.
IOL