South African woman convicted for kidnapping daughter Joshlin Smith

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South African woman convicted for kidnapping daughter Joshlin Smith

Joshlin Smith has not been found for more than a year after disappearance [Executive Mayor Andrè Truter/ Facebook]

The mother of a South African girl, who was six years old, was convicted of kidnapping and trafficking of her daughter for more than a year.

Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn were arrested last February from outside Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town.

Abduction and trafficking of Joshlin on Friday, Appollis and Rhyn were also found guilty. All three of them pleaded not guilty to these charges before.

Joshlin’s disappearance caused a shock wave across South Africa, and despite her high publicity, she has not been found yet.

During the trial in March, prosecutors accused Smith of “selling, delivering or exchanging” Joshlin, and then lying, then lying.

While reading, Smith wiped his tears, and Van Rhyn smiled inexplicably.

Applause filled the courtroom and some onlookers began to cry.

The trial was held at the multi-purpose centre in Saldanha to satisfy the great public interest.

Before the verdict, nearby roads were closed and police deployed in and around the center.

Smith’s trial attracted South Africa, with witnesses and prosecutors making many shocking charges.

The most explosive were Smith’s friends and neighbors, who turned to the state witness.

Ms. Lombakad claimed that Smith told her that she did “silly things” and sold Joshlin to a traditional therapist, known as “Sangoma” in South Africa.

“who [allegedly took] Ms Lomkad told the court that Joshlyn wanted her eyes and skin.

A local pastor testified that in 2023, he heard Smith’s mother of three – each selling her children for rand 20,000 ($1,100; £850), although she said she was willing to accept the lower number $275.

Joshlin’s teacher then accused Ms. Smith of the searches that her daughter had been “on the boat, inside the container, on their way to West Africa”.

Kelly Smith sat in court in a striped shirt. — During the trial, some shocking charges were made against Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, [AFP]

Smith’s attorney Rinesh Sivnarain expressed doubts about the allegations. He cited the contradictions in Ms. Lombakad’s remarks – recognized by the accused and suggested that she was an “opportunist”.

According to the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, Sangomas is legally recognized in South Africa, along with herbalists, traditional biological waiters and traditional surgeons.

Some Charats are involved in immoral traditional so-called therapy and are well known to sell good luck charms involving body parts.