Minor sex: Court frees woman
2003-11-07 21:48
Llewellyn Prince
Cape Town - A Dutch woman, who has not been able to leave South Africa since 1999, was freed in Cape Town High Court on Friday after her appeal was upheld against a conviction of indecent assault against three minors.
Sentenced last year to an effective six years in prison, the woman's attorney said all she wanted to do now was return home to her parents in the Netherlands.
Judith van Zundert, 25, was involved with a Clanwilliam sports development programme when the alleged incidents took place.
According to affidavits, the family with whom she stayed had a young son and a daughter. Van Zundert allegedly indecently assaulted both children and a neighbour's son.
The boys were four and five years old, and the girl was 14.
Van Zundert was sentenced to eight years in prison last year. Two years were suspended for five years.
Van Zundert appealed against her conviction and Judge Hansie Botha and Judge Siraj Desai set aside the ruling on Friday.
The judges said they found the State witnesses untrustworthy and contradictory.
They also said it could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt that she had committed the crimes.
Van Zundert's attorney, Kobus van der Merwe, said his client was happy about the ruling and all she wanted now was to return home.
- Die Burger