Man starts serving sentence for cyber crimes after digitally manipulating images of Ramaphosa, others
Scebi Thabiso Nene, 37, was sentenced by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court to five years for cyber forgery, and an additional three years for cyber uttering and the unlawful disclosure of intimate data.
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CAPE TOWN - A man has begun serving time behind bars after being convicted of digitally manipulating images of President Cyril Ramaphosa and other high-profile figures.
Scebi Thabiso Nene, 37, was sentenced by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court to five years for cyber forgery, and an additional three years for cyber uttering and the unlawful disclosure of intimate data.
The sentences will run concurrently.
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Nene was convicted for downloading and editing images of Ramaphosa, a former police minister and his spouse, as well as a former national police commissioner.
"He manipulated these images by superimposing their faces onto pornographic content and subsequently distributed the altered images via WhatsApp and official Presidency email channels," said Hawks spokesperson HAWKS’ SPOKESPERSON Thandi Mbambo.
This sentencing followed a separate incident in which a 28-year-old man was arrested in Germiston for allegedly making threats against President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
He is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Monday.