The Randburg Magistrates’ Court has once again postponed the high-profile case against Darren Wilken and Tiona Moodley, a Midrand couple accused of being part of a global child sexual abuse ring.
Bail denied for Darren Wilken and Tiona Moodley
Their matter has now been pushed to October 2025, with prosecutors finalising a lengthy charge sheet.
Both Wilken and Moodley remain in custody, having been denied bail earlier this year. Moodley is now planning to take her case to the High Court in a bid to overturn that decision.
What the state says
According to the prosecutor, investigations into the pair are complete, and the state is preparing a formal indictment.
“The indictment is quite a lengthy one, due to the severity of the charges and the number of charges the accused will be facing,” the prosecutor told the court.
Charges against them include:
- Producing and selling child sexual abuse material,
- Money laundering,
- Drug possession, and
- Various cybercrimes.
The scale of the case has drawn global attention, with South African police working closely with the FBI in the United States.
Inside the alleged operation
Prosecutors believe that Wilken was the mastermind of a dark web exchange where explicit child abuse material was sold to an international network of clients.
- Between 2023 and 2024, he allegedly generated more than R3 million from this operation.
- Moodley reportedly received R1.5 million, despite not having formal employment.
Law enforcement has seized a massive amount of digital evidence, estimated to include 10 million explicit images and videos.
The couple’s defence
During previous court appearances, Wilken denied making millions from the alleged crimes.
He claimed to be self-employed, earning only about R50,000 per month, and disputed reports that over R600,000 was seized from his home.
He also came under scrutiny for his BMW license plate, “KIDZ NA GP”, which investigators suggested was a coded reference to his crimes. Wilken dismissed this as an “inside joke.”
Moodley, meanwhile, has sought to distance herself from the allegations, blaming Wilken entirely.
Through her lawyer, she described herself as a “puppet” who only carried out administrative duties, while Wilken controlled all finances and content.
The case has been linked to a larger international investigation into online child exploitation. The Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) in South Africa is working alongside international partners to track the network of buyers and associates connected to Wilken.
For now, both Wilken and Moodley remain behind bars, with their next court appearance scheduled for October 2025.