Durban - A spiritual leader who raped a child devotee at his Chatsworth temple has been sent to prison for 15 years for his “despicable” behaviour.
Cooper Reddy, 60, of Havenside, looked apprehensive as he lingered on the steps leading to the holding cells below the Durban Regional Court after he was sentenced on Friday.
He was convicted on two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.
The assault began in 2006, when the complainant was nine years old and continued until 2010. The court had heard that the child had been taken to Reddy to be blessed.
Reddy, a father of two adult children and one adopted minor, described himself in his affidavit as a “spiritual leader”.
Passing sentence, regional magistrate Delia Turner said his behaviour was despicable.
“Your crimes are so serious that it cannot be overemphasised,” Turner said.
However, the magistrate deviated from the minimum sentence for rape of a minor, citing Reddy’s age and the fact that he was in custody pending his bail application as reasons.
The public gallery was empty except for Reddy’s family, who stood over the staircase leading to the cells below. Reddy stood for some time speaking to them in whispers.
The women sobbed as he was taken down to the cells by the court orderly.
SA Hindu Maha Sabha president Ashwin Trikamjee expressed concern yesterday at what he described as a pattern developing where people placed in a position of trust end up abusing it.
“It is a sad day when people are entrusted with society’s care, and in this case a child’s care, abuses that trust,” he said.
“The punishment meted out (to Reddy) was just and the offender got what he deserved.”
In November, Hindu priest Adhyatma Amithananda, 57, was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 12-year- old girl from oThongathi (Tongaat).
It was reported that the girl had epilepsy with chronic seizures and the family had asked him to pray for her to cure her of her condition.
Amithananda had gained the girl’s confidence by telling her he could cure her of her condition. He had told the girl the sexual assault was part of the healing process.
He was sentenced to life in prison for six counts of rape, 10 years for two counts of sexual grooming, and five years for creating, publishing and possessing child pornography.
Daily News