Court to hear trafficking charges against alleged baby snatcher Sameemah Jacobs

Alleged baby snatcher, Sameemah Jacobs, faces a charge of trafficking in persons when her case moves to the Regional Court for trial. She also asked the court to allow her next court date to take place after the holy month of Ramadan.

This charge is expected to be added to the existing charge sheet, which include charges of kidnapping and defeating the administration of justice.

Charges of fraud, and forgery is also expected to be added once the case moves to the regional court division. Jacobs made an appearance at the Bellville Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, dressed in a black top and purdah.

The charges relating to the fraud and forgery relate to hospital documentation in which Jacobs is alleged to have forged and also claimed that she was the mother of Baby Imaad Sharmar.

This was revealed during the bail application when Detective Sergeant Dawid Fortuin took the witness stand. At the time of her arrest, Jacobs was found with a bag of medical documentation which was handed over to police as evidence.

The state said they were waiting for instructions from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to the charges.

The state prosecutor said they were ready to proceed with prosecution and mentioned the following charges: “Trafficking, exploitation of persons, kidnapping, fraud, and forgery,” said the state.

“It will be added to the register as per the DPP decision.” Jacobs’ lawyer said he had no objection to the charges being added.

He then said that his client had requested a new date to be set in March due to Ramadan and Eid, as Magistrate Gcobani Ndaleni suggested a date in February  Ndaleni agreed on March 23.

“My client is requesting a date in March; she will be fasting,” the lawyer stated.

The date has been set to determine a Regional Court date.

Civic organisation, Action Society, who attended the proceedings, welcomed the addition of a human trafficking charge in the kidnapping case of the nine-day-old baby allegedly taken from a mall in Bellville in June.

“This development is significant. Crimes involving infants are serious, and it is critical that charges fully reflect the gravity of the alleged conduct," it said.

Jacobs is currently out on R4000 bail.

Last year, her bail conditions were amended, detailing that she must remove her purdah when signing in at Delft Police Station. She may not enter the district of Mitchells Plain.

The state is set to prove that Jacobs kidnapped Imaad Sharmar from his mother, Imaan Sharmar, at Middestad Mall in Bellville under the pretence that she was a volunteer for the NPO in June last year.

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