Uitenhage couple convicted for illegally copying, selling porn

A BUSINESSMAN was yesterday convicted for illegally copying porn – with the assistance of his wife – and then selling it from their Uitenhage home.

Etienne Slabbert, 48, and his wife Vanessa, 41, appeared in the Commercial Crimes Court yesterday, where they both pleaded guilty to contravening the Films and Publications Act.

The couple was arrested by the Hawks after a raid on their Uitenhage family home uncovered hundreds of pirated copies of DVDs, CDs, video games, computer programmes and pornographic films.

Vanessa, an aftercare worker, said she and her husband, a mechanical engineer, had stored computer equipment at their Venice Court, Uitenhage home, which they used to illegally copy movies, porn, music and computer programmes between January 2009 and August 2010.

She said the copies were sold across Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth at a cost of R20 for a DVD, R30 for a CD, R40 for a music DVD, R50 for a pornographic film and R50 for a video game.