Durban: The name of a Newlands East mixed martial arts athlete, Tayyib Galdhari, has been entered into the National Register of Sex Offenders and he has been declared unfit to work with children.
On Friday, the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court found the 22-year-old guilty on 50 counts of illegal possession of child pornography.
Galdhari was sentenced to seven years in jail, which he is currently serving at Westville Prison.
The Marble Ray resident was arrested at his home on the morning of September 3.
Police found 50 images and videos of child pornography on his cellphone.
Natasha Kara, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in KwaZulu-Natal, said those were inappropriate images of unknown children, both boys and girls, from as young as one years old.
"Most of the images depicted adults engaging in sexual acts with these children," she said.
In his plea statement, Galdhari admitted to accessing the internet and storing child pornography images on his black Huawei.
"The circumstances that led to my arrest were that in mid-2020, I was contacted by a person unknown to me online, who started sending me unsolicited child pornographic material.
“I admit that my actions are wrong and unlawful and that I have no defence in law and that I was fully aware of it at all material times as I was committing these offences. I further admit that all the images on the charge sheet were found in my possession and contained images and videos of child pornography."
Kara said Galdhari was apprehended following the arrest of another man, Kaytyn Sean Reddy, who forwarded the images and links to Galdhari via social media.
"Reddy’s phone was forensically analysed and linked to Galdhari. Reddy’s matter is still before the KwaDukuza Magistrate's Court."
The case was adjourned until next month.
In sentencing Galdhari, Kara said the court took into consideration that he was in possession of the images, and that he did not create or distribute them. Regional court prosecutor Naushaad Harripersadh led the prosecution in the matter.
The court ordered that Galdhari's name be entered into the National Register of Sex Offenders and that he be declared unfit to work with children.
On Instagram, he lists himself as an MMA athlete and a SA MMA Championship Competitor for 2021.
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