Danish man caught storing pieces of genitalia appears in court

JOHANNESBURG -- A Danish man appeared in a South African court on Monday for storing 21 pieces of female genitalia in plastic bags in his freezer.

He was charged with sexual assault, intimidation and breaking South Africa's medical laws, said Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn. He did not enter a plea. Police said the man will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Sept. 28.

Crowds jeered the man -- with some shouting "Satan!" -- as police escorted him from the courtroom. The man was identified in court as being 63 although police said earlier that he was 58.

The man's wife alerted authorities about the gruesome storage of body parts and police are investigating the extent of her involvement, said the investigating officer. Earlier, police said one of the man's victims reported him to police.

"It comes down to mutilation of private parts of a woman, cut out and kept as trophies," said Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn.

"He's been doing it for a long time because one the genitals were marked with a lady's name, the place Lesotho written on it, as well as the year 2010," she said.

It is not known if the body parts are from 21 different women. It is also not known how the man committed the assaults or if the victims are dead or alive. Police have asked women assaulted by the man to come forward.

The man was arrested on Thursday in Bloemfontein, in the central Free State province. Police said they also discovered anesthetic and surgical implements in his home, including pliers.

The Danish citizen owns a gun shop in Bloemfontein, reported Volksblad, a local Afrikaans language newspaper.

The Associated Press has not named the man because under South African law he should not be identified until he enters a plea.