Marcus Carlo Cappo faces court on slew of child sex abuse offences
The shocking number of child sex offences levelled against the junior heir of one of the state’s most iconic seafood companies has been revealed.
West & Beaches
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The junior heir to the throne of one of the most iconic and powerful South Australian seafood companies has been charged with a litany of child sex and exploitation offences.
Marcus Carlo Cappo, 19, on Wednesday appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court for the first time on 25 separate counts including seven of procuring a child for sexual activity.
Marcus Cappo, from Cheltenham, also faced seven counts of both producing and possessing child exploitation material and a further three counts of disseminating the same form of material.
All charges were alleged to have happened at Pooraka.
Marcus is the son of internationally renowned Cappo Seafoods co-director Matthew Cappo, who is a third-generation owner of the iconic South Australian company.
The company, which was formed in 1919, has been a mainstay at the Adelaide Central Markets.
The Cappo family were Italian migrants to Australia where, after arriving, six brothers founded the company at Port Pirie.
Marcus Cappo is the great-grandson of Carlo Cappo, who is credited with bringing the business from Port Pirie to Adelaide.
The seafood giant in 2017 formed a partnership with fellow SA produce mogul Thomas Foods to export seafood to Asia.
There is no suggestion Matthew Cappo, Carlo Cappo, Cappo Seafoods or Thomas Foods International is involved in any of Marcus Cappo’s charges.
The allegations are alleged to have happened over eight months from September 18 last year to May 1 this year.
The court heard Marcus Cappo was on a continuing bail agreement in relation to the charges.
Marcus Cappo was supported by his father at court on Thursday and represented by Stefen Costi, a former employee of Cappo Seafoods.
Mr Costi indicated to the court he was acting under instructions from high-profile defence barrister Andrew Moffa.
The court heard the Director of Public Prosecutions was determining if the charges would be classed as major indictable.
Magistrate Christopher Smolicz allowed Marcus Cappo’s bail conditions to continue before he would next face court in January.
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