A Nigerian Televangelist, Timothy Omotosho accused of raping young women from his South African church has been found not guilty of all charges after spending eight years in jail in South Africa.
Delivering the judgment this Wednesday, the presiding Judge declared that Mr Omotoso had been found not guilty because prosecutors had mishandled the case.
Reacting, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) shared a similar assessment, saying that “former prosecutors in the case acted improperly and the accused were not sufficiently cross-examined by the state”.
It however, disclosed it will “consider its legal options”.
Omotoso had denied the 32 charges brought against him in the trial that was broadcast live and gained huge interest across the country.
Reports indicate that His trial was the first prominent rape case to be broadcast live in a country where sexual violence is rampant.
The hearings attracted huge interest, and raised difficult questions about victims’ rights, impartiality and whether justice is best served by having television cameras in courtrooms.
One witness had in 2018 told the court she had been raped by the pastor – who ran a church in the city of Port Elizabeth – when she was 14 years old.
Baring his mind after the court’s verdict, Omotoso thanked God for the verdict.
Hi co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also found not guilty.
