10-05-2025
Why South African Police re-arrest Nigerian pastor wey dem clear of rape
South Africa Police Service (SAPS) don confam di re-arrest one Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso.
Di National Commissioner SAPS, General Fannie Masemola wey confam di arrest on Saturday, 10 May tok say na di Department of Home Affairs Immigration Inspectorate plus di SAPS' National Intervention Unit (NIU) and Tactical Response Team (TRT) arrest di pastor on charges wey relate to Immigration Act.
Immigration authorities and police arrest Omotoso for di town of East London on Saturday morning, "just after church", General Fannie Masemola tell tori pipo.
"E go face charges related to violations of di Immigration Act, and e go appear for court on Monday," e tok.
Na for April, one court for South Africa declare di Nigeria televangelist innocent afta e spend eight years for prison on top accuse say e rape and sexually assault young women for im church.
Di judge bin free Oga Omotoso of all di 32 charges of rape, trafficking and sexual assault against am.
Pipo bin para across South Africa afta di judge rule say even though di pastor explanations no follow, state prosecutors mishandle di case against am.
Pastor Omotoso tell tori pipo say in dey happy wit di verdict.
Di court also declare di oda co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, not guilty.
Mr Omotoso was dramatically arrested at an airport in 2017 as he sought to leave the country.
Authorities bin arrest di 66-year-old senior pastor of di Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church wey base for South Africa for 2017 on 32 charges, wey include rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Oga Omotoso bein deny di 32 charges for one trial court broadcast live and wey gain huge interest across di kontri.
Several young women, some of dem wey still dey for school at di time, bin testify say Omotoso bin handpick dem, e go later pray for forgiveness afta e meet wit each of dem.
For April, Eastern Cape High Court judge Irma Schoeman bin criticise di prosecution wey handle di case, e say di state no prove beyond dia case against Omotoso and di two assistants, wey also dey face di same charges.
Im trial na di first prominent rape case dem go broadcast live for kontri wia sexual violence dey rampant.
Di hearings bin attract huge interest, and raise difficult questions about victims' rights, impartiality and weda na di best thing for justice to dey broadcast live on television
South Africa get one of di highest rates of rape and gender-based violence for di world.
Dem report ova 42,500 rapes for 2023-24 financial year, according to police statistics, wey amount to more dan 116 rapes per day.
