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More children may be victims of sex cult, cops say

The Herald, South Africa
Dec. 5, 2005
Brett Adkins, Garden Route Bureau Chief
www.theherald.co.za

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Monday December 5, 2005

Southern Cape police say there is a very strong possibility there are more child victims of paedophiles linked to the “Trilogy Alliance” cult, following the arrest of two suspects in Stilbaai last week.

And they say such activities involving the cult – which has branches nationally – could be widespread.

Police have appealed to people with any knowledge of the cult or suspicious activities by people who may be linked to it, to come forward with the information.

Last week a 36-year-old man and 18-year-old girl appeared in the magistrate’s court in Albertinia following their arrest for rape after two young girls – aged 11 and 14 – were found in a farmhouse in Stilbaai where they were allegedly featured in child pornographic material produced by the suspects.

The police seized several DVDs, videos, computers and other equipment, as well as raiding other premises where they took possession of similar material.

The arrests and uncovering of a child porn ring in their midst has shocked the residents of the sleepy resort town of Stilbaai, which generally lives up to its name as a quiet, coastal getaway.

The man and girl have been charged with two counts of rape and are also facing charges under the Films and Publications Act – namely the production and possession of child pornography. They are in custody.

Southern Cape police spokesman Captain Eddie Cronje said Mossel Bay and Cape Town policemen had searched a house on a farm near Stilbaai where they found the two girls.

He said they were allegedly part of sexual activities conducted in the house which were filmed and photographed and then downloaded on to computers.

“Several other premises in Stilbaai were searched and goods of the same nature were seized,” said Cronje.

“The accused appear to be part of a cult called the Trilogy Alliance which seems to have members and branches nationally.”

He said the children had been removed to a place of safety where they would stay until court hearings were conducted. The two suspects will appear in court again in Albertinia on Friday.

Cronje said yesterday there was “definitely” the possibility that there were more young victims involved in similar activities.

“That is why we are appealing to people to come forward with information about this cult,” he said.

Cronje said similar paedophile activities could be far more widespread than just the Stilbaai area. “We are looking for any suspects who might be in a much broader area.”

Several “Trilogy Alliances” have a presence with websites on the internet.

One of them describes itself as a “spiritual order dedicated towards the feminine facet of the human psyche” following “a spiritual path known as the Way of Zen and Tao-ism”.

Another, the Dark Trilogy Alliance, appears to be a forum for online gaming, in which players join “clans”.