Child rapist, Gerhard Ackerman, gets life sentence

Gerhard Ackerman has received a total of 12 life sentences for his involvement in a child sex abuse ring that operated in Johannesburg. Ackerman appeared in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Monday, during which Judge Mohamed Ismail issued the sentencing. This ruling comes as a result of his conviction on over 700 charges associated with these heinous crimes.

The life sentences were given for all cases of rape and human trafficking, including the rape of minors.

Ismail described Ackerman as a “plainly evil man” who used kidnapping to expose kids to other men’s cruelty for his own gain.

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Ackerman was found guilty of:

• Human trafficking
• Sexual exploitation of minors
• Hundreds of counts of possession of child pornography
• Creating child pornography
• Sexual grooming of minors
• Exposing himself to children

The majority of Ackerman’s offences were possession of child pornography and the child sex abuse ring he organised with the help of renowned attorney and acting judge Paul Kennedy.

Ackerman and Kennedy were both arrested and charged. However, before the trial could begin, Kennedy committed suicide.

Ismail concluded that Kennedy killed himself after realising his days were numbered after being arrested.

Ackerman used social media to locate young teenage boys from underprivileged and difficult households for the child sex abuse network. The majority of the victims ranged in age from 14 to 16.

After gaining their trust, he would give them a job at his “massage parlour,” which was really just a cover for his sex abuse operation.

Ackerman trafficked the boys to the brothel and housed them after persuading them to serve as masseurs.

The boys were subsequently sold to a long list of clients after being sexually groomed.

 

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