Mom of alleged sex-trafficking victim testifies
THE mother of one of the alleged victims of a Russian national facing rape and child trafficking charges yesterday testified hearing rumours about her 15-year-old daughter and other girls in the neighbourhood being “sold-for-sex”.
The mother, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of her daughter, was testifying in the trial of Alexander Krylof (58) and Namibian national Anna Katrina Engelbrecht (29).
The two are facing 42 counts of rape and child trafficking in addition to a charge of supplying minors with cigarettes.
The matter is being heard before Windhoek High Court Judge Claudia Claasen.
During her testimony, the mother said she did not respond when confronted with the rumours about her daughter. However, the woman said she kept on asking her daughter, who later admitted she was approached by a certain Anna, who introduced her to a white man.
The woman further said her daughter told her that Anna instructed her to “sleep” with the white man for payment. She further informed the court her daughter refused the instruction because she was on her monthly menstrual cycle and that Anna had proceeded to “sleep” with the white man.
However, she said, her daughter started to stay away from school and would sleep out some nights, forcing her to confront the Namibian accused.
She further told the court that her daughter was small in stature and could never have been mistaken for a 17 or 18-year-old.
Krylof admitted at the start of his trial that he had intercourse with at least five under-aged girls during 2017 but denied raping them, saying he had paid them N$100 each time he had sex with them.
He further denied he was aware that they were under-aged.
According to a plea explanation submitted by his lawyer, Marinus Scholtz, the coaccused of Krylof called him during May 2017 and told him there was a lady who wanted to meet with him.
He then went to where Engelbrecht said they would be in Kuisebmond and spoke to the lady, who wanted money and told her he will pay for sex.
She agreed and they went to his flat, where she asked him for a cigarette, which he gave her, Krylof stated.
The accused claimed the woman had insisted she was 17 and had completed her school.
He further said that the woman was “well-developed” and did not bother to further ask about her age before engaging sexual activity.
He continued that he later also had intercourse with the second accused and paid them N$100 each.
According to Krylof, the complainant started contacting him regularly and he would pick her up for sex against payment and that whenever she would contact him for money, he would give between N$50 and N$100 if he had.
The trial continues today, with prosecution represented by Palmer Khumalo, while Krylof and Engelbrecht are free on warning.