The court heard on August 19 that the girl, 13 at the time, who was allegedly sold to a Heidelberg lawyer by her mother has identified the guesthouses where she reportedly had sex with the lawyer and “clients”.
This was when Carel Schoeman and his co-accused, the mother, made another court appearance in a High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
The lawyer 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. This includes 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 court proceedings on August 19, Warrant Officer Albertus Pelser, who assisted with the investigation, testified that the girl showed the police the premises where she had sexual intercourse with Schoeman and several other “clients”.
Pelser said the girl pointed out, among other things, a resort in Villiers (Free State) and guesthouses in Heidelberg, Brakpan and Boksburg North.
The mother’s legal representative, Advocate Harold Davids, asked Pelser under cross-examination whether the girl ever used the term “rape” or “sexual exploitation”.
Pelser explained that the girl merely explained to him where the alleged incidents with Schoeman or other men took place.
Boksburg senior prosecutor Henk Strydom also testified.
Strydom said he had a WhatsApp exchange with Schoeman, but never met him in a professional or personal capacity.
While sharing a printout of the conversation, Strydom highlighted that the supposed document Schoeman sent was a voice note, which contradicts an exported message thread Schoeman submitted to the court.
Strydom added he received no report from Schoeman, and further testified that he did not delete a message from Schoeman, but a message that he wrote to Schoeman.
He explained that this message contained his email address.
Strydom told the court that he deleted the message because he felt uncomfortable, as Schoeman had already given different versions of what happened.
The trial continues.
Also Read: Brandon Pretorius murder case: Magistrate needs more time for judgement of bail hearing
Also Read: Curve ball in human trafficking case
