Don't grant karate coach bail - parents

2011-11-18 22:36

Johannesburg - The bail application of a Johannesburg karate coach accused of sexually assaulting nine of his students at his studio was postponed on Friday.

The hearing in the Randburg Magistrate's Court will continue on November 29.

The court heard the parents of the complainants were worried about the coach being granted bail.

Investigating Officer Joel Ngobeni said the complainants were attending counselling sessions and would fear for their safety if the instructor was granted bail.

The State said new allegations of rape against the coach emphasised why he should be kept in police custody.

His lawyer, Jacques van Heerden, denied his client was someone to be afraid of.

"Has he ever attempted to hurt or intimidate the victims ever since the case was opened?" he asked.

"There is no action from him that gives substance to fear... this is not rational fear," he said.

Lured teen to hotel

The 68-year-old man is accused of indecently assaulting nine of his students.

They claim he fondled their breasts and touched their private parts.

Ngobeni told the court two more women had claimed they were sexually assaulted by the coach.

A 35-year-old woman said she was a teenager in 1988, when the coach lured her to a hotel near Johannesburg and raped her.

She claimed he had promised her a gift and that is why she thought they were going to a hotel.

Ngobeni said the coach had apparently promised her a karate qualification and promised to make her a "champion".

The second woman claimed the coach fondled her breasts when she was training at his centre in 2004, Ngobeni said.

- SAPA