Pastor Omotosho Acquitted Of Rape Charges In South Africa After Spending 8 Years Behind Bars

A South African high court on Wednesday acquitted a Nigerian televangelist, Timothy Omotoso of rape charges after he had spent 8 years behind bars.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the judge, Irma Schoeman criticized the way the state prosecutor handled the cross-examination, submitting that it was ‘shallow’ and adding that it clearly lacked the intention to uncover the truth.

Omotoso and his co-defendants; Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho had faced charges bordering on rape and human trafficking.

The Christian cleric is the senior pastor of the Jesus Dominion International based in Durban, South Africa and also the founder of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach and Ancient of Day Broadcasting Network.

The global outreach arm of the ministry functions under Tim Omotoso Global Outreach (TOGO) which is an Apostolic and Prophetic ministry designed under Trinitarian auspices to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ to this generation with signs following.  The Church arm is Jesus Dominion International with branches across South Africa, France and the UK, while holding crusades all over the world.

Recall that several young women had accused the pastor of tricking them into his home in Umhlanga, a town in South Africa, where he allegedly molested them,

Omotosho, who was born in 1958, was arrested on April 20, 2017, on arrival at the Port Elizabeth International Airport, South Africa.

Justice Irma Schoeman ruled on Wednesday, that the state prosecutor did not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt adding that the defendants were not properly cross-examined.

The judge submitted that ‘it was as if cross-examination never even took place’.

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‘He (Omotoso) was not cross-examined on his denial with reference to the complainants’ testimonies. No attempt was made to elicit inconsistencies or improbabilities. The cross-examination was shallow, lacking the intention to uncover the truth’ Irma said.

The South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority had since reacted to the court ruling noting in a statement on Wednesday that the prosecuting team would study the verdict and decide which legal avenues to explore.

‘Since the arrest of the trio in April 2017, their trial has been protracted with numerous obstacles, including interlocutory applications by the accused that even included Constitutional Court challenges.

The most recent applications were for five special entries for a mistrial and an application made on 16 January 2024, where the defence made an application for the judge to reconsider her previous judgment on the application for discharge according to Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which were successfully opposed by the state.

The delays caused some witnesses to no longer want to proceed with giving evidence as they indicated they have since moved on with their lives and are not interested in reliving their experiences in court. That has led to the reduction of the charges from 63’ the statement said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you