Paedophile's jailing is 'irregular'
A self-confessed paedophile wanted in Australia in connection with child sex claims is fighting tooth and nail for his release from Pollsmoor Prison.
|||Cape Town - A self-confessed paedophile wanted in Australia in connection with child sex allegations is fighting tooth and nail for his release from Pollsmoor Prison.
Anthony Peter Freedendal, being held here for the sexual assault of children in Cape Town, was to have been released a week ago after 16 months in jail, to serve the remainder of his sentence under correctional supervision.
But the Hawks said they, with the assistance of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, issued a warrant for Freedendal’s arrest the day before his scheduled release. This forced authorities to meet to reconsider the matter.
It was confirmed last Friday Freedendal would not be released.
But his attorney, William Booth, is preparing to take on the authorities, saying Freedendal was not served with a warrant or any documents emanating from Australia.
Neither had any charges been added, he said.
Booth explained the parole board decided weeks ago Freedendal would be released last Friday and that decision could not simply be revoked.
If there were new charges, or a request from Australia for his detention in connection with crimes allegedly com-mitted in that country, then he had to be rearrested and taken to court for a formal appearance within 48 hours, he added.
“He is being held for no reason. It is completely irregular,” Booth said.
Booth has demanded he be given proof an arrest warrant was issued, or any other documents had been sent from Australia.
Freedendal, 74, has South African and Australian citizenship.
He pleaded guilty to 15 sex assault charges in the Cape Town Regional Court in April last year and admitted to sexually abusing three boys and five girls in Cape Town.
In a plea and sentencing agreement with the State it emerged he attended the same church as the victims and he sexually abused them when he took them, on separate occasions, to his home for “sleepovers”.
He was sentenced to five years in jail in terms of Section 276(1)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act, which meant he only had to serve a sixth of his sentence - 10 months - before being released. He could then serve the remainder under correctional supervision.
Freedendal has made several appearances before the Parole Board since reaching the 10-month mark. Each time his bid for release was unsuccessful, until three weeks ago when the board confirmed his release date for last Friday.
But alleged victims in Australia learnt of the plans for his release and, via contacts in South Africa, began to protest. Correspondence by people who knew Freedendal, forwarded to the Parole Board at Pollsmoor Prison and to Weekend Argus, raised concerns about his release and revealed an investigation was pending in Australia. The complainants asked the board to carefully consider the matter.
Ultimately, his release was cancelled.
The Parole Board had not responded to a request for comment at publication time.
fatima.schroeder@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus