Jailed paedophile arrested for alleged sex crimes in Australia

A paedophile has been arrested in Cape Town in connection with a string of child sex crimes he is alleged to have committed more than a decade ago in Australia.

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Cape Town - A 75-year-old self-confessed paedophile has been arrested in Cape Town in connection with a string of child sex crimes he is alleged to have committed more than a decade ago in Australia.

Anthony Peter Freedendal is already behind bars in Pollsmoor Prison in connection with child sex assaults committed in Cape Town.

However, after a request from Australian authorities, he was formally placed under arrest at the weekend in connection with child sex crimes allegedly committed in that country, attorney William Booth confirmed.

Freedendal, who has South African and Australian citizenship, pleaded guilty in the Cape Town Regional Court in April last year, admitting he sexually abused three boys and five girls locally.

In a plea and sentencing agreement, it emerged he attended the same church as the victims and he sexually abused them when he took them 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 10 months behind bars and the remainder under correctional supervision.

He has been in prison for 16 months in connection with the local charges and has made several appearances before the parole board since reaching that 10-month mark until last month, when the board confirmed his release date for August 5.

But the release was cancelled at the 11th hour after it emerged he was wanted on similar charges in Australia.

A magistrate in Pretoria issued a warrant for his arrest, which was served on him at the weekend.

The warrant indicates he is being sought in connection with the sexual exploitation of a child, indecent assault and unlawful sexual intercourse.

Booth told the Cape Argus he could not stop authorities from arresting his client. However, he took issue with the fact his client was not released as agreed, and that it took authorities nearly two weeks to serve him with the international warrant of arrest.

Booth said it meant Freedendal was in jail longer than he needed to be.

Booth is still deciding whether or not to take any action.

Freedendal is to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

fatima.schroeder@inl.co.za

Cape Argus