Johannesburg – Authorities have frozen the bank accounts of odd couple Darryn Wilken and his girlfriend Tiona Megan Moodley arrested in connection with millions of images of child sexual abuse.
A luxury car belonging to Wilken was seized and more than half a million rand in the couple’s bank accounts has been frozen.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Tuesday, (11 March 2025), revealed that their request to freeze assets belonging to the couple had been granted by the High Court of South Africa.
The first accused 35-year-old Wilken was arrested on 17 January 2025 at his home, where law enforcers recovered millions of images of child sexual abuse.
His 25-year-old girlfriend, Moodley, was arrested on 23 January 2025.
The pair have been in custody ever since their arrests.
The AFU said it launched an urgent application seeking the preservation of cash seized at the crime scene as well as other cash in a frozen bank account belonging to Wilken and his girlfriend Moodley, which was granted by the high court on 17 February 2025.
This followed the execution of a search and seizure warrant obtained on 17 January 2025 by the Cybercrime Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) that initially arrested Wilken.
He faces several charges including manufacturing and distributing child pornography, possession of drugs and money laundering.
NPA Gauteng Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the search and seizure operation culminated from collaborative investigations conducted by the SAPS together with US Law Enforcement Agencies, which included the FBI and US Secret Services.
Wilken allegedly operated a child pornography website, offering child sexual abuse material for sale worldwide to would-be clients.
“He allegedly 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,” said Mjonondwane.
“Wilken’s luxury vehicle was also seized. It brazenly reflected a registration number ‘KIDZ NA GP’.
“The luxury vehicle, high-end electronic equipment and R647 300 in cash were the subjects of the search and seizure warrant.”
Mjonondwane said following further evidence gathered by the SAPS, an accomplice and Wilken’s girlfriend, Moodley, was also arrested on charges of the manufacturing and distribution of child pornography hosted on a website, as well as charges of money laundering.
“Through the joint efforts of a multi-disciplinary international team comprising of the US Secret Service, the FBI, SAPS, Financial Intelligence Centre and the AFU, the property belonging to the accused was seized,” said Mjonondwane
“The accused subsequently appeared in the Randburg Regional Court, where their legal representatives launched a bail application.
“The application was successfully opposed by the State Advocate representing the NPA.”
The Court handed down judgment on 14 February 2025, denying the accused bail.
The investigation into the matter is ongoing both locally and abroad so as to protect the rights of children.
