A Bloemfontein man found guilty on charges relating to child pornography will have his name placed on the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO), in addition to a sentence of three years’ imprisonment.
The Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court sentenced Andre Meyer (29) on Friday, 20 June.
Capt. Loraine Earle, spokesperson for the provincial police, said Meyer’s sentencing was a result of an investigation conducted by the Free State Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) unit in Bloemfontein. She said compelling evidence includes testimony by two of Meyer’s underage victims, who positively identified the accused.
Earle said an incident involving two boys occurred in the restrooms at a Bloemfontein school on 29 February last year.
“Following the court procedures, Andre Meyer entered a guilty plea on charge of creating child pornography in violation of Section 24(b) of the Films and Publications Act. He was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years. His name will also be placed on the National Register for Sex Offenders, declared unfit to work with children,” said Earle.
It emerged the crime was committed during a school’s sports event.
“The two boys entered a restroom when an adult male unlocked the door for them. While they were relieving themselves, the man discreetly took a photo of one of them. The second boy witnessed the act and immediately alerted his friend. When confronted, the man claimed it was a joke, deleted the image in their presence and left the scene. The victim reported the matter to his mother, who attended the event. The suspect was later identified by the boys as a contract chef working in the school’s hostel kitchen,” said Earle.
She said a case of crimen injuria was initially opened at the Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein. Earle said that due to the serious nature of the incident, the case was transferred to Capt. Bez Bezuidenhout of the provincial SECI Unit.
“Upon further investigation, and to ensure the severity of the offence was appropriately addressed, Section 24(b) of the Films and Publications Act was added. It pertains to the use of a child in the creation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This ensured the suspect could be properly listed on the NRSO and barred from working with children in the future,” said Earle.
