Australian man, 76, due in SA court for sexual offences against children

Cape Town - An Australian man who was arrested in Pollsmoor prison at the request of Australian authorities will appear in court on October 4.

Anthony Peter Freedendal was arrested following a request for his arrest by Australian authorities earlier in August, Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda told News24.

He faces 15 charges of indecent assault, five of persistent sexual offences with a child and four charges of sexual intercourse with a minor in Australia.

The Hawks said Freedendal had been released on bail in Australia and had travelled to Cape Town in 2011. He had not gone back to Australia to face trial.

In 2014, then living in Sea Point, Cape Town, he was arrested, charged and sentenced after he was found guilty of sexual offences.

Now the 76-year-old has been arrested by Interpol and his court appearance is part of an eventual extradition application.

Independent Online reported that he was imprisoned in South Africa for sexually abusing three boys and five girls in Cape Town. He attended the same church as the victims and would invite them for sleepovers.

- An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that he would appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, September 27.