Chatsworth scholar transporter charged for kidnapping, grooming schoolgirl (15)
'TRAUMATIC'
A 35-YEAR-OLD Chatsworth scholar transporter has been released on R500 bail after appearing in court on charges of grooming and kidnapping a 15-year-old schoolgirl.
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A 35-YEAR-OLD Chatsworth scholar transporter has been released on R500 bail after appearing in court on charges of grooming and kidnapping a 15-year-old schoolgirl.
Preston Naidoo, of Arena Park, appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The married father of two allegedly subjected the teen to a traumatic experience, with his lawyer contesting the circumstances of the alleged offence.
He was released on R500 bail.
It has been alleged that he took the girl on a horror ride while groping her and forcing her to watch him masturbate. He used to drop and fetch the girl from school daily.
His attorney Shireen Soobrathi told the court that Naidoo was initially charged for sexual assault, but the charge was changed to grooming by police handling the case.
Soobrathi said Naidoo faced a Schedule 1 offence bail application and his alternate address had been verified in Shallcross.
“The accused is not related to the victim, but he lives two roads away from the victim. We are in the process of obtaining the tracker reports for his vehicle, which will confirm that several other children were picked up, including the complainant’s own siblings, during the time that she claimed that she was kidnapped,” Soobrathi said.