Man alleged to be running child s.e.x ring pleads on over 700 counts
The Johannesburg High Court on Monday heard how a man alleged to be running a child s.e.x ring made a living from the proceeds of the s.e.xual exploitation of children.
Fifty-year-old Gerhard Ackerman appeared before the court to make a plea on over 700 counts against him ranging from r@pe, the production, and distribution of child p0rn0graphy as well as human trafficking.
His co-accused in this matter acting judge and renowned human rights lawyer Paul Kennedy died by suicide IN 2022 after being charged.
Ackerman is accused of luring the boys – some as young as 14 to perform s.e.xual acts on Kennedy and other men at a fee.
Ackerman stood in the dock before judge Mahomed Ismail on the first day of his trial.
He stood on his feet for almost two hours as 700 counts of various crimes linked to the rape and sexual exploitation of teenage boys were read to him.
Ackerman repeated the words “not guilty” to every single count read to him.
Not only is he accused of ferrying some of the boys by cab and train and linking them with adult men including acting judge Kennedy in 2020, but he is also accused of actively participating in the rape of boys.
Towards the end of the proceedings, State prosecutor advocate Valencia Dube read the count where Ackerman is accused of making a living from the s.e.xual exploitation of boys, sometimes taking a cut from the fees Kennedy and others allegedly paid the children and sometimes pocketing all the money.
Judge Ismail cut proceedings once the 700 counts were read to Ackerman.
The matter was postponed to Tuesday for him to plead to the 30 remaining counts.
-EWN
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