Lawyer disputes girl’s age in human trafficking trial
Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
The Heidelberg lawyer accused of buying a 13-year-old girl from her mother, who allegedly sold the sexual services of her underage girls on websites, is now disputing the girl’s age.
Carel Schoeman and his co-accused, the mother, made another court appearance in a High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
Schoeman faces 26 charges, while the mother faces 72. Both accused pleaded not guilty to all charges during an earlier court sitting.
The charges include rape, sexual abuse of a minor, child trafficking, and pointing a firearm. The alleged crimes took place between mid-2022 and early 2023 in areas across Gauteng, the Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal, including Boksburg, Heidelberg, Brakpan, Springs, Villiers, Amanzimtoti, and Ramsgate.
In his plea explanation, Schoeman claimed he believed the girl was 19 years old at the time of the alleged offences.
During the court proceedings, Schoeman’s advocate, Sita Kolbe SC, cross-examined former investigating officer Captain Veronica Banks.
Kolbe questioned whether the complainant’s age was medically verified.
Banks said it was not necessary, as a copy of the girl’s birth certificate was sufficient, and the mother also confirmed her age.
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Kolbe further asked Banks why the police did not accept an identity document stating the girl was 18.
Banks said this identity document was fake.
She testified that the minor girl referred to a relationship she had with another man and said that she had undergone an abortion.
Kolbe questioned why the other man had not been arrested. Banks responded that having a relationship with someone does not necessarily mean that sexual intercourse took place.
According to Banks, there is a list of names showing payments made to the mother. This would be investigated separately.
The mother’s aunt also testified. During cross-examination, the witness mentioned a phone call from the eldest daughter, in which the child asked if she could stay with her.
The trial continues.
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