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“We can smile today.”
Those were the words of a family member of one the young rape survivors following the sentencing of 66-year-old Lukas Rudman, who was on Friday sentenced to an effective 14 years in prison.
Family members and supporters of the young rape survivors welcomed the sentence.
“We are just glad that Somerset East (now renamed KwaNojoli) will be rid of that man. Thank goodness!”
Rudman had been found guilty of rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
He’d been hoping for a non-custodial sentence.
'ENTICED'
During his previous court appearance in January, the court heard that a correctional supervision and social worker’s reports – requested by Rudman’s defense team – would only be presented before the court on the 19th of February 2024.
The reports were requested to indicate if Rudman was a suitable candidate for a non-custodial sentence, which is a sentence served outside of prison.
In November 2023 Rudman waw found guilty on seven charges that included three counts of trafficking in persons, one count of consensual sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16, one count of consensual violation of a child under the age of 16, one count of inspiring in a child the belief that she would be sexually assaulted and one count of sexual assault.
He was acquitted on four other charges.
Following his conviction in November, Rudman, who had been out on R1000 bail, was taken into custody.
The state says Rudman enticed the young complainants, who come from poor backgrounds, to visit his house by giving them gifts, including money, cell phones and food.
In some cases, he offered alcohol to the girls, who were between the ages of 13 and 18 at the time of the incidents.
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