ONEPANDAULO – A pastor of a Pentecostal church allegedly raped three learners last month at his home at the Onkandi village in Etayi constituency.
Confirming the incidents, Omusati police chief, Commissioner Ismael Basson said the pastor is accused of sexually violating the female members of his congregation – aged 17, 19, and 24.
It is alleged that the suspect, who cannot be named, as he has not yet made his first court appearance, raped the women on separate occasions.
Basson said from the information gathered, the victims occasionally cleaned the pastor’s room, during which he would rape them.
New Era visited the church venue yesterday and witnessed how the police was arresting the man of God.
However, his wife indicated that the learners are allegedly being instigated by of one of the villagers who has issues with the pastor.
“Those learners always come to my husband in the evening hours, seeking school stationeries. I remember the day they came, and my husband gave them pens,” she said.
The wife is struggling to believe the accusations and where the acts of rape could have taken place, saying she is always for her husband.
“There are people who used to sleep in the church, and they could have told me about my husband sleeping with the learners. There is no truth in this story,” she shielded.
The alleged raped victims were provided with counselling services and police investigations are ongoing.
– fhamalwa@nepc.com.na