MALMESBURY – The bail application of a 16-year-old Malmesbury teenager facing 15 charges relating to child sexual abuse material resumed at Malmesbury Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 15 October.

The defence read the accused’s affidavit and an expert report from a social worker into the record.

The case was postponed to Thursday, 22 October, for the State to resume with its case opposing bail, National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed.

The teenager faces charges of accessing, possession, facilitation and downloading of child sexual abuse material.

Earlier this month, the court received a medical report confirming that the accused does not have any mental illness and has no intellectual disability. He was found fit to stand trial and follow proceedings after a 30-day observation period at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.

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The teenager was arrested at his parents’ home on 17 August following collaboration between the South African Police Service’s National Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations unit and American law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Embassy and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

A preliminary analysis of the teenager’s electronic devices uncovered explicit images and videos depicting child sexual abuse and animal mutilation.

Investigators linked the suspect to a fragmented violent online network called “764” and noted that he did not act alone.

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