Child porn defendant remanded at first court appearance

The 67-year old man accused of distributing child pornography was remanded in custody “for his own protection” 

GIBRALTAR (Agencies/GibChronicle) Isaac Benady, of 1 Boschetti’s Steps, was arrested last Thursday in a joint operation by the Royal Gibraltar Police and the US's FBI. He appeared before the Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning facing one charge of possession of indecent photographs of children and three separate charges of distributing those images.
Flanked by two policemen, Mr Benady sat in the secure defendant’s box and did not speak during a 30 minute appearance before Stipendiary Magistrate Charles Pitto. Clean shaven and wearing a light blue long sleeve shirt, he held his hand to his face throughout much of the hearing and glanced only occasionally at the packed public gallery where members of his family were sitting. Benady, who until last Friday worked at the Morrison’s petrol station, was granted legal aid by the court. Mr Pitto refused an application for bail made by Mr Benady’s defence lawyer, former RGP superintendent Jay Gomez.Crown prosecutor Kerrin Drago opposed the bail application on the grounds that the serious nature of the alleged offences meant there was a risk that Mr Benady could leave Gibraltar if released.

If convicted, the defendant could face up to 10 years in jail.

Mr Drago also said that keeping Mr Benady in custody would ensure his safety, adding that there had been an adverse reaction on social networks to news of the arrest.

Mr Gomez rejected the arguments and said Mr Benady had extensive family links to Gibraltar. 

As for the reactions on social networks, he said the focus of most discussions had been to criticise the fact that Mr Benady had been named in the media.