WESTERN CAPE: 25 JUNE 2023 - The Somerset West Regional court sentenced Koos Kerneels (48) to life imprisonment for rape on 19 June 2023. The sentence followed after he and his accomplice approached the 27 year old victim while on her way home in Libanon, Grabouw and raped her in December 2017. His accomplice, Gerald Jacobs (39) at the time of their arrest pleaded guilty on the rape charge and was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by the Strand Regional court.
Koos however pleaded not guilty and the case was sent to trial in the Somerset West Regional court. The case was assigned to Captain Francois Boer who started an intensive investigation and collected evidence to build a strong case and present it before court, and based on this Koos Kerneels was found guilty and sentenced.
Police management in the Province thanked the investigating officer for the hard work he put into his investigation and added that the safety of women and children is a top priority of Western Cape police.