Judge finds Paul Kennedy had a crucial part in Ackerman’s child sex ring

Johannesburg High Court Judge Ismail Mahomed said the late advocate, Paul Kennedy, played a vital role in the child sex ring that was run by kingpin Gerhard Ackerman.

“One is always averse to saying anything bad about the deceased, but Paul Kennedy played a vital role in this matter and was a participant,” he said.

“He financed transportation for the boys to get to the accused’s house.”

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Judge Mahomed also said while Kennedy’s death was a shame, he knew what would happen.

“He brought shame to himself and the profession he represented,” he added.

Kennedy died by suicide in February last year, after he was arrested and charged alongside Ackerman.

Child sex abuse trial

Ackerman on Monday was effectively found guilty of every charge relating to the running of a child sex abuse ring where he recruited teenage boys on Facebook, then trafficked them and sexually groomed them before selling the sexual services of the boys to adult clients under the guise of working as an above-board massage parlour.

The 52-year-old faced over 700 charges ranging from rape, distribution of child porn, and human trafficking of minor children for sexual exploitation.

Ackerman pleaded not guilty to the charges, saying he did nothing wrong because the young boys “knew what they were doing”.

He was acquitted of at least seven charges and found guilty of more than 700.

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Judge shocked by Ackerman’s ‘lies’

Judge Mahomed said he is shocked by Ackerman’s lies and the manner in which he continued to lie before the court.

“I’ve seen people lie before the court but the manner in which the accused lied before this court is shocking,” he told the court.

Ismail also rejected Ackerman’s versions of the rape of a 16-year-old boy, referred to as “SJ”.  

He says Ackerman’s version is improbable that he was teaching the teenager to massage, yet he then penetrated the teenager without warning.

“The accused forced himself on the boy.”

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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