Kelly’s mother is convicted of abduction of a daughter in South Africa

The mother of a South African girl who disappeared at the age of six years ago was condemned abduction and trafficking in human beings.

Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacques Apalis and their friend Stephen Van Rin were arrested after Smith’s daughter Joshlin went missing in February, from the House of Soldier, near Cape Town.

Apalis and Rin were also found guilty on Friday of Joshlin’s abduction and trafficking. All three did not find themselves guilty of these accusations.

The disappearance of Joshlin directed the shock waves in South Africa and, despite the widely advertised search, has not yet been found.

During the trial, which took place in March, the prosecutor’s office accused Smith of selling, delivery or exchange “Joshlin, and then lied about her disappearance.

Smith wiped her tears from his eyes when the verdict was read, while Van Rin invisiblely broke into a smile.

The applause failed through the packed courtroom, and some visitors started crying.

The trial was held at the Multifunctional Center for Soldagnia to “ensure that the community has access” to the analysis, Judge Nathan Erasm, who managed the case, said earlier.

On the eve of the verdict, the nearby roads were closed, and police officers were deployed in the center and around it.

The court seized South Africa, and the witnesses and prosecutors filed a number of shocking allegations.

The most explosive came from Lurentia Lombardo, a friend and neighbor of Smith, who turned the state witness.

Ms Lambaard claimed that Smith told her that she had done “something stupid” and sold Joshlin to the traditional healer known in South Africa as “Songgom”.

“The man who (allegedly took) Joshlin wanted her to be for her eyes and skin,” said Ms Lambaard in court.

The local pastor testified that in 2023 he heard Smith – the mother of three people – talking about the sale of his children for 20,000 reas ($ 1100; £ 850), although she said she was ready to accept the lower figure of $ 275.

Then the teacher Joshlin, as it is claimed, in court, that Smith told her during the search, that her daughter was already “on the ship, in a container, and they are on the way to West Africa.”

Smith’s lawyer Rinesh Sinarine raised in these accusations. He referred to the inconsistency – recognized by the accusation – in the expression of Ms Lamardo and suggested that she was an “opportunist”.

The defendants decided not to call any witnesses in defense and did not take the position during the trial.

Songomas are legally recognized in South Africa in accordance with the 2007 traditional medical practice law, as well as counters, traditional duty and traditional surgeons.

Some charlatans are involved in the unscrupulous traditional so -called medicines, and are known to sell the fun bowls that include body parts.

The accusation was that Smith discussed the sale of his daughter and had problems with drugs, caused talk about the vulnerability of children, especially in the poor communities of South Africa.

In the Joshlin community in Middelpos, parents tell local media that they are still concerned about the safety of their children more than a year after the disappearance of the young girl.