News / National
Harare court cracks down on DStv piracy
2 hrs ago |
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A 65-year-old Harare man, Geoffrey Charles Bushby, has been convicted for hacking MultiChoice DStv systems and offering parallel subscription services, while a local woman was fined for selling counterfeit DStv decoders.
Bushby was sentenced to nine months in prison by Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki, with three months suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years, and a further six months suspended upon payment of a US$300 fine. The magistrate cited his advanced age, first-offender status, and ill health as reasons for the leniency.
According to court records, Bushby ran an operation connecting clients to DStv channels without authorisation. Between February and March last year, he advertised his services on WhatsApp, offering access to all channels for a one-time annual fee of US$300. Using a Xiaomi TV Box S, Bushby created login credentials to connect clients directly to DStv servers, bypassing the company's legitimate subscription system. He also misrepresented himself as a MultiChoice-accredited agent and employed an advertising agent, Bambazonke, to promote his services.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe's anti-piracy manager, Parcion Matikiti, posed as a client, which led to Bushby's arrest at Matikiti's residence after completing an installation. Police recovered two Xiaomi TV Box S devices on the scene, and a subsequent search of Bushby's home at 89 King George Road yielded 32 additional boxes, a laptop, and a cellphone.
In a separate case, 25-year-old Natasha Maka was fined US$150 for selling counterfeit DStv decoders. Maka was caught on February 17 at the corner of Mbuya Nehanda and Nelson Mandela streets, selling decoders registered under South African accounts and managing subscriptions for them. Authorities also seized power supply units and remote controls found to be counterfeit, along with several other items including sealed decoder boxes, remotes, a receipt book, a diary, and a counter book.
These cases highlight the courts' ongoing efforts to combat piracy and protect legitimate broadcasting services in Zimbabwe.
Bushby was sentenced to nine months in prison by Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki, with three months suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years, and a further six months suspended upon payment of a US$300 fine. The magistrate cited his advanced age, first-offender status, and ill health as reasons for the leniency.
According to court records, Bushby ran an operation connecting clients to DStv channels without authorisation. Between February and March last year, he advertised his services on WhatsApp, offering access to all channels for a one-time annual fee of US$300. Using a Xiaomi TV Box S, Bushby created login credentials to connect clients directly to DStv servers, bypassing the company's legitimate subscription system. He also misrepresented himself as a MultiChoice-accredited agent and employed an advertising agent, Bambazonke, to promote his services.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe's anti-piracy manager, Parcion Matikiti, posed as a client, which led to Bushby's arrest at Matikiti's residence after completing an installation. Police recovered two Xiaomi TV Box S devices on the scene, and a subsequent search of Bushby's home at 89 King George Road yielded 32 additional boxes, a laptop, and a cellphone.
In a separate case, 25-year-old Natasha Maka was fined US$150 for selling counterfeit DStv decoders. Maka was caught on February 17 at the corner of Mbuya Nehanda and Nelson Mandela streets, selling decoders registered under South African accounts and managing subscriptions for them. Authorities also seized power supply units and remote controls found to be counterfeit, along with several other items including sealed decoder boxes, remotes, a receipt book, a diary, and a counter book.
These cases highlight the courts' ongoing efforts to combat piracy and protect legitimate broadcasting services in Zimbabwe.
Source - newsday
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