LilMtnCbn
06-26-2004, 06:42 AM
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1548513,00.html
Stolen baby: parents blasted
26/06/2004 08:24 - (SA)
Nivashni Nair
Durban - The biological and adoptive parents of a baby sold for R10 000 behaved
in an equally questionable way, Durban magistrate Anand Maharaj said on Friday
during the bail hearing of the accused baby thief.
The state alleges that 53-year-old Hester Elizabeth van Schalkwyk kidnapped and
sold the baby for R10 000.
She apparently met the baby's father at the motocross track in NMR Avenue in
Durban. When she found out his wife had given birth to a baby in Rustenburg,
she paid the bus fare for his family to come to Durban.
The family stayed at the motocross premises and allowed Van Schalkwyk to take
care of the baby during the day.
Investigating officer Inspector Nivi Lutchminarain told the court that the
parents agreed to give their baby up for adoption after Van Schalkwyk lied to
them about the baby having a broken back.
The plot thickened when Van Schalkwyk allegedly offered the ³abandoned² baby to
a couple in Scottburgh for R10 000. They were told the money was for legal
fees.
It is alleged that the couple paid the money, received the baby and then became
suspicious when Van Schalkwyk could not deliver legal documentation.
Confusion arose at court yesterday when Lutchminarain said all parties were
present at the hearing in Scottburgh regarding the adoption of the baby.
Apparently, that was when the biological parents discovered that their baby did
not have a back problem.
Maharaj questioned why the adoptive parents believed that the baby was
abandoned when they met the biological parents at the Scottburgh court.
There was also uncertainty about the presence of the adoptive mother when Van
Schalkwyk allegedly obtained the birth certificate illegally.
Contacts at home affairs Initially, the state opposed bail as a result of
Lutchminarain's concern that he would not be able to trace Van Schalkwyk if she
used her ³contacts in the home affairs department to obtain another passport
and then left the country². Van Schalkwyk possesses three passports.
Later the state abandoned its standpoint and agreed to bail. However, the
defence disputed the condition relating to the motocross track where Van
Schalkwyk runs a business. The condition prohibits Van Schalkwyk from entering
the premises because she might make contact with witnesses living there.
Almost two hours later, an agreement was reached and Van Schalkwyk was granted
bail of R10 000. The charges of kidnapping, two counts of fraud and
contravening the Child Care Act still stand.
The defence will argue why Van Schalkwyk should be entitled to access to the
motocross track at her next court appearance on July 9.
Maharaj said the evidence and specifics of this case reminded him of the Thomas
Hardy book The Mayor of Casterbridge, in which a man sells his wife. ³After
hearing evidence from the investigating officer, I am very concerned,² he
concluded.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
Stolen baby: parents blasted
26/06/2004 08:24 - (SA)
Nivashni Nair
Durban - The biological and adoptive parents of a baby sold for R10 000 behaved
in an equally questionable way, Durban magistrate Anand Maharaj said on Friday
during the bail hearing of the accused baby thief.
The state alleges that 53-year-old Hester Elizabeth van Schalkwyk kidnapped and
sold the baby for R10 000.
She apparently met the baby's father at the motocross track in NMR Avenue in
Durban. When she found out his wife had given birth to a baby in Rustenburg,
she paid the bus fare for his family to come to Durban.
The family stayed at the motocross premises and allowed Van Schalkwyk to take
care of the baby during the day.
Investigating officer Inspector Nivi Lutchminarain told the court that the
parents agreed to give their baby up for adoption after Van Schalkwyk lied to
them about the baby having a broken back.
The plot thickened when Van Schalkwyk allegedly offered the ³abandoned² baby to
a couple in Scottburgh for R10 000. They were told the money was for legal
fees.
It is alleged that the couple paid the money, received the baby and then became
suspicious when Van Schalkwyk could not deliver legal documentation.
Confusion arose at court yesterday when Lutchminarain said all parties were
present at the hearing in Scottburgh regarding the adoption of the baby.
Apparently, that was when the biological parents discovered that their baby did
not have a back problem.
Maharaj questioned why the adoptive parents believed that the baby was
abandoned when they met the biological parents at the Scottburgh court.
There was also uncertainty about the presence of the adoptive mother when Van
Schalkwyk allegedly obtained the birth certificate illegally.
Contacts at home affairs Initially, the state opposed bail as a result of
Lutchminarain's concern that he would not be able to trace Van Schalkwyk if she
used her ³contacts in the home affairs department to obtain another passport
and then left the country². Van Schalkwyk possesses three passports.
Later the state abandoned its standpoint and agreed to bail. However, the
defence disputed the condition relating to the motocross track where Van
Schalkwyk runs a business. The condition prohibits Van Schalkwyk from entering
the premises because she might make contact with witnesses living there.
Almost two hours later, an agreement was reached and Van Schalkwyk was granted
bail of R10 000. The charges of kidnapping, two counts of fraud and
contravening the Child Care Act still stand.
The defence will argue why Van Schalkwyk should be entitled to access to the
motocross track at her next court appearance on July 9.
Maharaj said the evidence and specifics of this case reminded him of the Thomas
Hardy book The Mayor of Casterbridge, in which a man sells his wife. ³After
hearing evidence from the investigating officer, I am very concerned,² he
concluded.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
