Sex tourist: Fine 'very light'
2005-11-29 20:50
Johannesburg - The national co-ordinator of Childline says the R10 000 fine for a Swiss lawyer caught having sex with a young boy is "a slap on the wrist" and "is sending out the wrong message".
Police spokesperson Mary Martins-Engelbrecht confirmed that Peter Zimmerman had been released after appearing in court on charges of committing sexual offences against a minor. She said she had no further details.
The Star newspaper reported the 46-year-old lawyer had paid a fine of R10 000 as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors. The newspaper said Zimmerman had then left South Africa.
Makhosini Nkosi, spokesman for the national prosecuting authority, said he had no immediate comment.
Zimmerman, described as a wealthy corporate lawyer, was arrested on October 14 in his hotel in Sandton with the boy, who reportedly lived in nearby Alexandra.
Police, who acted on a tip-off, said at the time that Zimmerman lured children with expensive gifts.
Joan van Niekerk, national co-ordinator of the ChildLine charity, called the R10 fine "very, very light".
"I am concerned about the sentence because it does nothing in the long term for child protection," said Van Niekerk.
"We are concerned it sends out the wrong message."
She accused authorities of trying to keep details of the release quiet because they were embarrassed - especially because South Africa is in the middle of an awareness campaign against abuse of women and children.
South African law carries a minimum sentence of 15 years for indecent assault against a minor.
In the Zimmerman case, Van Niekert said, the boy concerned was reluctant to testify in court because he was scared he might also face prosecution as a child prostitute.
The African National Congress promised before both the 1999 and 2004 elections to close existing loopholes and introduce new legislation regarding sex crimes.
Rape, for instance, is defined under the law as a male-against-female act.
The proposed amendment has been removed without explanation from the parliamentary agenda, according to opposition parties.
"It is an absolute disgrace that a Swiss citizen has got away with a virtual tap on the wrist for raping a South African boy, simply because the definition of rape does not include male-on-male rape," said the Democratic Alliance.
Although South Africa is not a high-profile destination for sex tourists like some Asian nations, there is mounting concern that poverty is forcing many children - especially those who have lost parents to Aids - into the arms of sexual predators.
- AP