Leano Vergotine
Image: Facebook
A convicted child rapist who has been released on parole, is once again facing the law after being accused of a series of violent and sexual offences involving minors- all of which was recorded.
41-year-old Leano Vergotine from Ceres, faces five charges of rape of three minors (a 16-year-old-girl and two boys aged 15 and nine), attempted rape, assault with intent to cause serious injury, kidnapping, three counts of using children to produce child pornography and three counts of producing child pornography and possessing child pornography.
His trial is currently being heard in the Western Cape High Court sitting in Wynberg Court, with the indictment detailing specific incidents which allegedly took place in 2022.
Vergotine, who sported a gold Ankh (Egyptian-styled) necklace, often related to the symbol of life, has pleaded not guilty to all 17 charges, even after admitting to being the man seen in the footage obtained by the court.
The state alleges that Vergotine locked a minor girl in his Wendy house between September 9 and 10, 2022, after they had been out together that night.
The 16-year-old girl went to Vergotine's Wendy house with a friend, after requesting to use his toilet. The friend then left the house.
Vergotine allegedly became aggressive with the girl and threatened her with a knife to take off her clothes. She refused. He then proceeded to undress her, leaving her naked on the bed.
He was interrupted and left the house, locking the girl inside until the next morning.
Upon his return, he proceeded to take pictures of her vagina on his cellphone and then raped her with his penis and tongue.
The girl reported the incident to the police when she was finally released. When police arrested Vergotine, who had been on the run, they seized a digital storage device (flash drive) and his cellphone.
When analyzing the seized items they found child pornography of other victims, which led to the identification of complainant 2 and 3.
According to the indictment, the State is set to prove that on various occasions, Vergotine assaulted the child complainant, including an incident where he allegedly inflicted serious physical harm amounting to assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and other instances of common assault.
The State further claims that on another occasion, Vergotine attempted to rape the complainant, and that he unlawfully deprived the victim of their freedom, leading to a charge of kidnapping.
The second victim, a 15-year-old boy, was taken to a deserted wooded area in the Ceres mountains, where Vergotine placed his cellphone in a tree and the alleged rape was filmed.
The third victim, a nine-year-old boy, was allegedly raped regularly by Vergotine between January and September 2022. These offences were also recorded on his cellphone.
According to a witness Vergotine regularly went to fetch the boy at his home.
Vergotine also performed oral sex on the minor.
According to a summary of the recordings, which was viewed in camera by acting judge Amanda von Leeve, Vergotine's legal representative and the state, Vergotine occasionally persuaded the victims to make pornographic videos.
In one incident Vergotine is heard telling complainant 2 to state his name and address. Telling him to not be shy and then zooms into the young boys private parts.
He can also be heard making statements to the young victims, about playing with vaseline and suggesting to make “good porn movies”, he is also heard telling the nine year old that “when you grow up it will be easier".
In court he also admitted that he could not control himself with the rape of the 15-year-old boy and added that he pleaded not guilty because it was done with the minors consent.
In addition to these incidents, the indictment outlines multiple alleged contraventions of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act.
These include accusations that Vergotine engaged in unlawful sexual conduct involving a minor and committed acts linked to the exploitation of a child.
The State Prosecutor Advocate Renee Uys is set to prove that, on separate occasions, Vergotine was involved in the possession, creation or distribution of prohibited material involving children, in contravention of the Films and Publications Act.
Several of the charges are read with provisions relating to repeated offences, indicating that the alleged conduct took place over a period of time rather than as isolated incidents.
The case continues.