Gerhard Ackerman, a convicted paedophile, was sentenced to 12 life terms in the High Court of Johannesburg on Monday for his involvement in a child trafficking ring.
He was sentenced for rape, human trafficking, attempted murder, and malicious property damage.
Ackerman’s sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will only serve one life term behind bars, according to Judge Mohamed Ismail.
Ismail went on to say that Ackerman was unfit to work with children. He went on to say that Ackerman had no remorse throughout the trial.
During Monday’s sessions, Ismail reprimanded Ackerman for raising his hand in an attempt to address the court.
“This is not a school. You cannot just raise your hand. It’s rude and also distracting,” Ismail said.
Ackerman fired his attorney shortly after being sentenced and requested a retrial.
Ismail reminded Ackerman that he was on leave and would return to court today (Monday) to deliver the verdict.
Ismail directed Ackerman to file his motion for retrial with the court and the State by November 15, and the motion would be heard on November 30.
Ackerman was previously convicted on counts including attempted murder, rape, sexual exploitation of children, and sex trafficking, according to SurgeZirc SA. Acting judge and senior advocate Paul Kennedy was charged with Ackerman.
Between September 2020 and July 2021, the two ran the human trafficking ring. Kennedy committed suicide.
The men were charged with sexually grooming children, being in possession of child pornography, creating child pornography, committing rape, sexual assault, compelled rape, compelled sexual assault, human trafficking, sexually grooming children and benefiting from sexually exploiting children.
