A Swiss ”sex tourist” who was caught a month ago allegedly sodomising a South African boy has cut a deal with the state to pay a fine, The Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Child-rights organisations have reacted with outrage at what they described as slap on wrist for Peter Zimmerman, a corporate lawyer caught in his Sandton hotel having sex with the boy, believed to be from Alexandra township, the paper said.
Zimmerman (46), who was on holiday in South Africa, was arrested on October 14 by the family violence, child protection and sexual offences investigating unit after a tip-off.
Instead of appearing in court on Monday, Zimmerman — who has since left South Africa — was back home, having paid a fine of R10 000 after a plea bargain was agreed with the state on November 18.
At the time of Zimmerman’s arrest, Gauteng police said he was enticing children to have sex with him in exchange for expensive gifts, the newspaper said.
It said Zimmerman’s legal team struck a deal with the state for him to plead guilty to a charge of indecently assaulting the boy, aged 14.
When Zimmerman appeared in court on November 18, he was able to get away with a fine of R10 000 or 12 months.
A further one-year jail sentence, suspended for five years, was imposed, the paper said. — Sapa