Android TV box seller gets suspended prison sentence for pirating DStv content

Jan

Jan

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DStv pirate slapped with 7-year jail sentence

The Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court has sentenced a Capetonian man to seven years in jail for infringing MultiChoice's copyright by selling access to pirated DStv content.

The perpetrator — Jordan Lee Mott — was arrested in October 2020 by detectives of the Western Cape's provincial commercial crime unit.
 
Although that means he can serve time outside of a physical prison cell, the sentence will be added to his criminal record and remain for at least ten years.
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Lol... wonder who came up with this s**t?!

Suspended sentence does not mean he can serve time outside of a physical prison cell. It means he serves absolutely no time in prison at all. He has been given a slap on the wrist and sent home on condition he does not get found guilty of this crime again in the next 5 years.
 
rvZA said:
He has been given a slap on the wrist and sent home on condition he does not get found guilty of this crime again in the next 5 years.
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...Except for the part where he has a criminal record that can only be expunged a decade hence.
 
Jan said:
...Except for the part where he has a criminal record that can only be expunged a decade hence.
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Yes, a criminal record is a fact upon conviction. No matter what the sentence is. And yes, in 10 years time he can apply to have the record expunged.

But, a wholly suspended record means that he does not have to serve any sentence in jail at all, on condition that he is not found guilty within 5 years for the same crime again. The only real punishment in my opinion here is the fine he had to pay.
 
rvZA said:
The only real punishment in my opinion here is the fine he had to pay.
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If he wanted to travel / get work internationally, it depends on how strict his destination country wants to be. I've heard the Americans don't look too closely at where your criminal record comes from.

Regardless, I've amended that line to be more accurate.
 
A suspended sentence means our film and publications board are not serious about piracy
 
Jan said:
If he wanted to travel / get work internationally, it depends on how strict his destination country wants to be. I've heard the Americans don't look too closely at where your criminal record comes from.

Regardless, I've amended that line to be more accurate.
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The United States see copyright and hacking as far more serious crimes than murder, robbery or graft.
 
Jan said:
If he wanted to travel / get work internationally, it depends on how strict his destination country wants to be. I've heard the Americans don't look too closely at where your criminal record comes from.

Regardless, I've amended that line to be more accurate.
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In my opinion, he will likely never get to work in or emigrate to any Western country with this conviction against his criminal record. I know of people who had visa's declined on traffic offenses. Traveling to most countries on holiday, however, does not require a clearance certificate though.
 
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