Johannesburg High Court has sentenced serial offender, Gerhard Ackerman to 12 life sentences for extensive record of sexual crimes against children in South Africa.
Ackerman appeared in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Monday, where Judge Mohamed Ismail sentenced him for the more than 700 charges he had been found guilty of.
The life sentences were imposed for each of the rape and human trafficking counts, including the rape of minors.
The judge Ismail said Ackerman was a “plainly evil man” who lured children and opened them up to abuse from other men for his own benefit.
During the trial, it was revealed that Ackerman had committed crimes such as rape, human trafficking, the exploitation of minors, and the production, possession, and distribution of child pornography.
These crimes are deeply concerning, especially considering their impact on the vulnerable victims.
Judge Mohamed Ismail, who presided over the case, emphasized the severity of Ackerman’s actions by imposing the maximum penalty of 12 life sentences.
This means that the sentences will be served concurrently, reflecting the gravity of the offenses committed. He said.
The judge also announced that, in addition to the charges brought against him in this trial, Ackerman is also facing another trial for a separate case of child sexual abuse, allegedly taking place at a Johannesburg country club in 2018.
The court proceedings were further complicated by the tragic death of Paul Kennedy, Ackerman’s alleged accomplice, who reportedly took his own life before the trial began.
He intends to petition for a retrial of the case.
