Detective details how co-accused singled out Joshin's mother as the mastermind behind her disappearance

CAPE TOWN - A detective in the anti-kidnapping unit has detailed how the accused in the Joshlin Smith trial singled out the missing girl's mother as the mastermind behind her disappearance.

The Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre on Monday heard how the accused turned on each other.

Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Stevano Van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking for allegedly selling the little girl for R20,000.

In a confession statement to police, accused number one, Appollis, admitted that he and accused number two, Van Rhyn, left Joshlin with a woman in Middelpos known as "Maka Lima" on the day the child disappeared.

Appollis stated that they acted on instruction from Smith, who told them "Maka Lima" would pay R20,000 for the child.

Detective in the anti-kidnapping unit, Sergeant Dawid Fortuin, said that when he interrogated the accused in March last year, Van Rhyn was the first to crack.

"He then told me I must ask accused number three, my lord," said Fortuin.

Fortuin said Van Rhyn also told him Appollis, whose nickname is Boeta, knew something about what happened to Joshlin.

"Boeta then also told me to ask Kelly, my lord," said Fortuin.

Fortuin added that Appollis and Van Rhyn then admitted that they left Joshlin with "Maka Lima" on Smith's instruction.

The trial continues on Tuesday.