A South African court has acquitted Nigerian televangelist, Tim Omotoso on 32 charges, including rape and s*xual assault.
Omotoso was jailed eight years ago for allegedly raping and s*xually assaulting several young women from his church.
Judge Irma Schoeman of Eastern Cape High Court on Wednesday, ruled that the prosecution had mishandled its case against Tim Omotoso, 66-year-old senior pastor at Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church based in South Africa.
The judge found Omotoso not guilty of all charges, which included sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Schoeman said that while the pastor’s explanations appeared improbable, state prosecutors had not proved beyond reasonable doubt their case against him and two assistants who also faced charges.
She said, “The accused are found not guilty and are discharged on all the charges.”
The women who testified against Omotoso alleged that he handpicked them, who would pray for forgiveness after each encounter.
According to the judge; some of them had been part of a gospel girl band called Grace Galaxy which was formed by the pastor and others were still at school.
This comes amid nationwide protest for justice for Cweche, a seven-year-old pupil at Bergview College independent school in Matatiele Eastern Cape, South Africa. She was allegedly raped on the school premises while awaiting her transport.
