Three to testify against alleged genital mutilator
THREE of the alleged victims of Peter Frederiksen, the Bloemfontein man who was arrested after the police found 21 pieces of female genitalia in a freezer in his house, have come forward to testify against him.
This emerged yesterday when he appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.
The court was also told that he is apparently a wanted man in his native Denmark after he allegedly fled the country before serving a six-month sentence in connection with the illegal possession of a firearm.
And Frederiksen, 63, allegedly married his wife, a woman from Lesotho, while married to a woman from Denmark.
Yesterday, he abandoned his bail application. It is believed that he was advised to do so because the Department of Home Affairs was withdrawing his permanent South African residency. He apparently acquired his citizenship fraudulently. If he were granted bail, he would have been deported, according to the department.
Frederiksen was arrested in Bloemfontein last month after police made the gruesome discovery. Neatly packaged, labelled and documented female genitalia and a large collection of photographs of female genitalia, some belonging to girls possibly as young as seven, were found in his house.
He allegedly performed illegal female circumcisions on 21 women, mostly from Lesotho, and kept the clitorises as trophies in a freezer at his home in Edenglen, Bloemfontein.
Frederiksen’s wife reportedly alerted the police to the collection after he allegedly drugged her and mutilated her genitals.
The charge sheet was amended and now includes three charges of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (all with sexual assault alternatives) and a charge of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm involving a minor. He is also being charged with the possession and manufacturing of child pornography, the removal of human tissue in contravention of the Health Act, and bigamy.
It emerged yesterday that three of his 21 victims have come forward. Frederiksen’s wife and another person are expected to testify against him.
Another victim, who apparently said she came to Frederiksen to have the female circumcision done voluntarily, is expected to testify for the defence.
As was the case at his previous court appearance, ANC Women’s League members gathered in court and verbally attacked Frederiksen, calling him a monster, a killer and an executioner.
As Frederiksen was taken down to the holding cells during an adjournment, ANCWL regional chairwoman Mapaseka Nkoane challenged him to “come and cut us as well”.
His case was postponed to December 7.