By OBAKENG MAJE
A 38-YER-OLD man who was arrested for human trafficking, assault, rape and compelled rape, possession of illegal drugs as well as being an illegal immigrant has been denied bail by the Kimberley District Court.
Adeyefa Adedamola Adetoye was arrested after an intelligence-driven multi-disciplinary operation led by the DPCI, Organised Crime, Intelligence, and other specialized units within the South African Police Service after the law enforcement agencies received a tip-off regarding the accused transgressions.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane said during Adetoye’s arrest at one of the chain motels in Kimberley, two victims were found in his room.
Senokoatsane further said the victims aged 17 and 29, informed the police that, they had been trafficked from the City of Johannesburg in Gauteng to Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
“They alleged that, they had been locked in the hotel room and prostituted as sex workers by the accused. The police also found illegal drugs in the room belonging to the accused during their search.
“During his bail application, the court heard that the accused who is from Nigeria, does not have legal papers to be in South Africa as his permit expired in 2018. He also does not have a fixed address where he could be located and that he could be a flight risk,” he said.
Senokoatsane added that, the court also heard how the victims were lured by the accused and trafficked and exploited for sex work from one place to another. He said the case has been postponed to 30 January 2024 and the accused will be remanded in custody.
Meanwhile, Senokoatsane said the investigations led by the Directorate Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) are continuing in this matter. He said the NPA welcomes this decision by the Kimberley District Court to deny the accused bail as the country continues to celebrate 16 Days of Activism.
The Guardian 