Durban doctor denies prostitution charges
2013-01-21 18:54
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Durban - A doctor, his wife and three men, pleaded not
guilty on Monday in the Durban Regional Court to dealing in cocaine, human
trafficking and keeping a brothel.
The five, who were arrested last February, face a total
of 156 charges, including assault, rape, sexual exploitation of a child and
racketeering.
They allegedly ran a brothel where children as young as
12 were kept.
Sandile Patrick Zweni, Nonduzo Dlamini, Bhabha Dubazini,
Dr Genchen Ragnath and his wife Ravina, could face life imprisonment if
convicted by Magistrate Simphiwe Hlophe.
Zweni's lawyer Mbuyiselo July told the court his client
admitted to hiring prostitutes who loitered outside the Inntown Holiday Lodge in
Durban's Point area, as well as smoking dagga on occasion with Dlamini and
Dubazini.
However, he denied ever knowing the Ragnaths, described
by the State as the masterminds behind the enterprise.
Zweni, Dlamini, and Dubazana were arrested along with a
fourth person in February last year.
At the time of their arrest, police said about 24 women were
rescued from a building.
Eight of them were minors.
The charge sheet, which was read to the court, refers to
22 girls.
Some of the girls were allegedly as young as 12 and under
the influence of drugs.
The trial continues on Tuesday.
- SAPA
