The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg found Gerhard Ackerman guilty on Monday of multiple charges linked to a child sex abuse ring that he masterminded.
Ackerman faced 740 charges, including possession of child pornography, rape, human trafficking, sexual grooming of a child, sexual assault and the sexual exploitation of children.
"During the trial, evidence was led to prove that Ackerman had found young teenage boys on social media, trafficked them, sexually groomed them and sold their sexual services to a large list of clients."
"One of Ackerman's clients was Paul Kennedy, a high-profile senior advocate who was an acting judge on several occasions."
"The court found that Ackerman had sent at least one teenage boy to Kennedy, knowing that the lawyer was HIV positive."
"Before Kennedy took his own life last year, he was charged alongside Ackerman."
"Gerhard “Gerrie” Ackerman, who was convicted on more than 720 charges related to child trafficking, rape and attempted murder by the Johannesburg high court on Monday, preyed on the vulnerability of minor boys."
"Most of these children came from troubled homes and poor backgrounds. One or two of them had personal issues and thoughts of suicide and ideation."
More arrests expected after conviction of child sex abuse ring kingpin Gerhard Ackerman
"National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said there would be more arrests and prosecutions related to the case."
“The NPA anticipates that we will continue to work on the matter in order to obtain additional prosecutions as a result of this outcome. This is just the start.”
"Faced with more than 735 charges of raping young boys, #humantrafficking, unlawful possession, creation and importing and/or exporting, and distribution of child pornography, Senior advocate and former acting judge Paul Kennedy SC, allegedly committed suicide."
"The state alleged that he had committed the heinous crimes between September 2020 and July 2021."
"A lawyer who had worked closely with Kennedy told the Daily News that he was highly protected by powerful people despite being a paedophile."
"The source said that he was found dead at his home after he committed suicide, adding that a close family friend who was at the scene, could not immediately confirm if he hanged himself or died from overdosing pills."
"Other media houses also reported on Kennedy’s death but stated that the cause was still unknown."
Judgment is expected for child rape ring kingpin Gerhard Ackerman - SABC News
"Gerhard “Gerrie” Ackerman is suspected of committing a number of serious offenses that span more than a decade, including exposing himself to minors in public restrooms, making child pornography, and raping a juvenile."
"Additionally, he is accused of organizing a child sex ring in #Johannesburg."
17 March 2022: 'He Was in a Dark Place'
"The legal community is in shock after advocate Paul Kennedy took his own life as he faced more than 700 criminal charges relating to a child-sex ring."
An attacker shot to death Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani in Babolsar in Iran’s Mazandaran province, state television reported. Police later arrested the attacker, state TV said, without offering a motive for the shooting.