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Court hears chilling details of pastor's grooming methods in bail hearing
Sitham Baram Michael Andrew Chetty at his bail hearing on Wednesday
Image: Yoshini Perumal
THE modus operandi of a convicted 'sex pest pastor' appealing for bail indicated that he 'strategically positioned himself in the lives of families, gaining their trust and that of their children, before he sexually groomed and eventually sexually assaulted them'.
These were the closing arguments from the State in the bail application of Bayview pastor Sitham Baram Michael Andrew Chetty, 54, at the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court yesterday.
Chetty is accused of the sexual assault and the rape of a boy, 11, from his congregation, on multiple occasions since September 2024. He was arrested and charged in March this year.
In a fresh bail bid, which started last Thursday, Chetty told the court that he could afford bail of R5 000, and would safely reside in Phoenix, should he be granted bail.
Chetty had a previous conviction of sexual assault of a minor from his congregation in 2018.
State prosecutor, Dayantha Subrayadu, said after perusing the docket from Chetty's previous conviction and the new charges, there was a 'clear modus operandi.'
'Chetty strategically positions himself in the lives of the families of the victims gaining their trust and the trust of their children. The second phase of this modus operandi is to suggest that the child come with him for the purposes of church services and preaching at church or Sunday school.
'Because he is in a position of trust, the family allowed him to do so, and that is when he was able to isolate his victim he then attempted to test their boundaries and skillfully groom them before eventually sexually assaulting them.
'Both victims reached a point during the course of the sexual assault that they had enough and they are finally able to muster up the strength to confide in their family,' she added.
Subrayadu said in respect of the previous conviction, the charge was sexual assault, but in this case, charges include rape.
She said this brings the State to an inference that charges against Chetty hac escalated since the last criminal matter, which was his previous conviction, which only included a charge of sexual assault.
Highlighting the public outrage, Subrayadu said it was clear that the public was outraged regarding the matter.
'Without us even having to leave the court building we are able to feel the outrage of the community. On March 27, Chetty was supposed to apply for bail.
'There was a big crowd of people, which included community members and leaders present before court and they continued to come to court. The State sees community members coming to court, and we think the fact that these are people who have jobs, children, and their own lives, yet they have taken the time out of their day to come to court and stand with the victim.
'This is to tell the court there is no space in society for a sexual predator and we echo the sentiments of the community,' Subrayadu added.
She said should Chetty be released on bail there was a 'high likelihood' that his life would be in danger.
