Sunday, March 11, 2012

Dad arrested for molesting daughter, stepdaughter; possessing child porn (Underberg, South Africa)

Actually, UNNAMED DAD wasn't arrested for sexually abusing random kids at this "Bible camp." He was arrested for molesting his own daughter and stepdaughter. Which just goes to prove that DNA doesn't stop a pervert....

http://www.pretorianews.co.za/bible-camp-sex-pest-charged-1.1253529

Bible camp sex pest charged

March 11 2012 at 09:54am
By Matthew Savides

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS
An Underberg father will this week appear in court on two charges of sexual molestation and possession of child pornography. He was arrested at the Scripture Union camp just outside the town, where he was a manager.
THE small town of Underberg in the southern Berg is in shock after a local Christian camp counsellor was arrested on charges of sexually molesting his daughter and step-daughter, and for possession of child pornography.
The 41-year-old man, whose name is known by the Tribune but can’t be released as it will identify the victims, has appeared in court on the charges and will be in the dock again on Thursday. He has been in police custody since his arrest nine days ago.

Police sources said the sexual assault cases date back to 2009, when the girls were aged 13 and 17. The older girl is his own child, while the younger girl is his step-child.
Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker confirmed the man will face two charges of sexual assault and also unlawful possession of child pornographic material.
The arrest was made by the Himeville Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit last Friday, and he appeared in the Himeville Magistrates’ Court on Monday. He was arrested at Glenhaven campsite, which is run by Scripture Union SA. The man was a manager at the site. It is unclear whether there were any children there at the time of his arrest.
The man will appear in court on Thursday for a bail hearing. It is unclear whether the case will be remanded of whether he will be asked to plead.
Scripture Union SA confirmed the arrest and the man’s identity, saying that he had been barred from the site. Director Tony Nzanzah said the organisation found child pornography on the man’s computer three days before his arrest.
The matter was reported to police, who made the arrest.
Religious leaders were shocked at the incident, saying it would cause damage to the girls as well as to the church.
Pastor Les Green of the Underberg Baptist Fellowship said, “It does great harm to the Lord’s name when someone who professes to be Christian does this kind of thing. He hasn’t been found guilty, but if it does turn out to be true then it is something very serious.
“The world tends to look upon churches when something like this happens and says, ‘Look at them, they all do this kind of thing’. It’s very damaging.”

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, Catholic Archbishop of Durban, said he had not heard of the incident, but was worried about the harm it would cause. “Anyone who abuses a child breaks that built-in trust that a child has. It can cause massive damage to the child for who knows how long,” he said.
When told that it was the man’s daughter and step-daughter, Napier said this made the crimes worse. “The relationship a father has to a child, as a protector, is vital. To break this makes it even worse. It’s really sad,” he said.
Napier said it was important for the churches to thoroughly screen people they employ to try to prevent incidents like this from happening.
Residents of the town were talking about the arrest when the Tribune visited Underberg this week.
However, many had not heard of the man before. He lived with his wife on the Glenhaven grounds, about 2km out of town.
One business owner, who asked not to be named, said: “Even if he walked in here, I probably wouldn’t recognise him. If it is true, it is scary because he worked with kids. It’s terrible.”
A restaurant manager was shocked when told about what had allegedly happened.
“There are some sick people around. It’s amazing to think he would have done this to his own children. And think about how many children he worked with. You don’t think something like that could happen here,” she said.
Nzanzah told the Tribune the man had worked for the organisation for about a year. “We have suspended him pending an investigation and he has been prohibited from entering the campsite. The site… is under alternative management,” he said.

l Speaking about himself on his Facebook profile, the man wrote: “Good Guy, crazy, all round noodle, have a really dodgy past where I have done way to many things that I can never ever repair the damage that I have done, and have many regrets about not doing so… however Life is the greatest teacher of all, and through life experience has been gained, knowledge been granted and grace received, now if only I can forgive myself life would be great… as it is life is good, and worth living for every second. And has now become even more special to me, as things at first are not what they seemed to be!!!!! Try life people, it surprises you at every turn (sic).”