The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has found sex ring kingpin Gerhard Ackerman guilty of more than 700 charges including rape, attempted kidnapping, sexual exploitation, sexual grooming, and possession of child pornography.
Ackerman’s trial started in January, which saw him taking nearly two days to plead not guilty to 740 charges.
Despite maintaining his innocence on 19 April, saying he did nothing wrong because the young boys “knew what they were doing”, Johannesburg High Court Judge Ismail Mahomed said Ackerman exploited children and targeted their vulnerability with a number of the boys coming from disadvantaged homes.
Ackerman was acquitted of at least seven charges and found guilty on more than 700.
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The trial ran on and off for three months, where prosecutor, Advocate Valencia Dube, led the evidence of more than a dozen witnesses and presented hard evidence in the form of WhatsApp conversations from Ackerman, as well as forensic reports on the child pornography found on his cellphone and laptop.
After the State closed its case, Ackerman brought a Section 174 discharge application, where he was acquitted of two rape charges relating to him allegedly performing oral sex on two different complainants, two boys aged 15 and 16.
Throughout his trial, Ackerman made several concessions, including how he allowed boys as young as 14 to give massages to his clients, knowing that they would be sexually abused. He, however, still believed that he did nothing wrong.
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However, it is alleged Ackerman also requested pornographic images and videos from the children and sometimes paid them for the content. These would reportedly be distributed to his clients, including Paul Kennedy.
Kennedy was arrested and charged alongside Ackerman for the crimes allegedly committed between 2019 and 2021.
Judge Mahomed postponed the trial to 18 July for a psychologist report before the sentencing proceedings could take place.
Ackerman was remanded in custody.
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