Johannesburg -Paul Diamond and Nicole Levenstein are calling on anyone allegedly abused by billionaire Joburg stockbroker Sidney Frankel to join them in their battle to finally bring him to book.
The brother and sister are two of seven complainants taking Frankel to court for alleged indecent assault and rape, dating from 30 years ago.
They intend suing him for millions of rand for the harm they say they suffered.
They believe many more children, who would be adults today, were sexually assaulted too, but have been too terrified or ashamed to speak out.
The seven complainants have to sue Frankel in a civil case because of the time that has passed, meaning he can no longer be criminally tried.
Their lawyer, Ian Levitt,
said the crime of rape could never be prescribed in law but that at the time of the alleged offences, male rape was regarded as indecent assault.
Diamond and Levenstein, who say Frankel molested them 30 years ago, believe Frankel’s alleged abuse did not come to an end with them, which is why they want to find victims within the 20-year prescription period to allow Frankel to be criminally tried – and jailed.
“This is not about the money. First prize would be sending him to prison, but we can’t,” Levenstein told The Star.
Diamond added: “We want to create a platform of support for others who have been abused. People have been so supportive of us. We want to show that support to others in our situation. He (Frankel) is the one who should be embarrassed, not us.”
Levenstein and Diamond’s alleged abuse is detailed in the affidavits they have submitted for the civil proceedings.
In 1976, when Levenstein was just seven years old, she would visit Frankel’s farm in Kyalami with her brother and two friends – now fellow complainants – Katherine and George Rosenberg.
During the trips, Frankel was allegedly the only adult there and would allegedly fondle her, touching her genitals and rubbing himself against her.
He allegedly told Levenstein to keep it a secret as it was a special thing he did only with her.
Diamond, now 43, also described Frankel’s alleged abuse on the farm, usually occurring during bath time. One particular incident involved Frankel allegedly insisting that Diamond and George Rosenberg simulate sex using a Coca-Cola bottle lined with Vaseline.
Frankel’s specialist divorce and criminal lawyer, Billy Gundelfinger, said he would not “litigate the matter in the media”.
When told that one of Frankel’s alleged victims said the businessman had allegedly called to apologise for the abuse in recent years on recommendation by his psychologist, Gundelfinger said his client would deal with the matter in the appropriate forum.
Levitt said the civil claim would be instituted this week.
His associate, advocate Stacey Barbaglia, also indicated that the issue of the inability to lay criminal charges in the case could become the subject of a Constitutional Court case.
“The law does not offer victims of sexual abuse pre-1994 a remedy. This raises an important issue that needs to be addressed. Given this, we are considering our options, including approaching the Constitutional Court,” she said.
Anyone who has information on the alleged abuse or was an alleged victim can contact Barbaglia at 083 600 2342 or [email protected]
The Star