Vital to closely monitor convicted paedophiles, says ex-justice boss

William Creasey Picture: Supplied

William Creasey Picture: Supplied

Published Feb 28, 2020

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Cape Town – Former justice and correctional services head Hishaam Mohamed said it was imperative that movements of a convicted paedophile be monitored.

His comments come in the wake

of the outrage by Rondebosch residents and Rondebosch Boys’ High School (RBHS) about the presence of William Creasey, 73, at cricket matches at the school.

Creasey, convicted in 2004 for indecently assaulting 13 boys at a Grassy Park school, was also found in possession of child pornography.

He was released in 2009 but was spotted taking photographs at the Rondebosch school’s sports event last weekend.

Parents approached him and he was escorted by police from the event.

Mohamed said: “I’ve been in

contact with Sonja Harri, the head

of the Family, Child and Sexual Offences Unit. She informed me

that before the school lodged a complaint, they had been monitoring Creasey’s movements.

“Monitoring must not compromise his movement of freedom as enshrined in the Constitution but

in this instance, public interest is

more important.”

Earlier this month, the school stated the paedophile approached two RBHS families to provide extra art lessons to their boys.

A researcher at the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders, Venessa Padayachee, said: “A paedophile never changed being a paedophile even after he was released.

“A person like Creasey needs ongoing supervision. We’ve one major problem in our prison. Inmates don’t get fully structured rehabilitation.

“There must be a proper assessment and plan in place before a person

gets released.”

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