A woman said yesterday a pastor accused of raping her had told her she was being prepared for a mission to take the word of God.

The 22-year-old, who was 19 at the time of the alleged offence, was giving evidence on the first day of the trial.

Iowane Vakadranu, charged with four counts of rape, appeared before the judge, Justice Vincent Perera at the High Court in Suva.

It is alleged that between October 1, 2012 and October 21, 2015, in Vanua Levu and Tailevu, Vakadranu raped two of his church members who were 20 and 19-years-old then.

First  prosecution witness

During the examination in chief, the court heard that the victim was in Form Six but had left school at the time of the alleged offence.

She told the court that she joined Back to Eden Church Ministry’s home school after she returned to Tailevu.

Between 2012 and 2015 the victim held leadership positions in the church and went to Labasa for two years with 11 other youths for a training programme.

The victim said that Vakadranu was preparing the group spiritually to spread the word of God to the world.

During the training, the church youth members attended a one-on-one session with Vakadranu about their positions in the church.

In her session, Vakadranu told her that he would perform an act that she would not have dreamt of and asked her consent for it.

The victim said that she agreed to it and was told by Vakadranu that he would touch her breast and private parts. He subsequently had sexual intercourse with her.

She said: “I cannot tell the world something I haven’t done, I cannot lie to the people.

“Everything done was not the lust of the flesh, I have a clear conscience about it.

“I gave him permission, it is my choice and I have agreed with it.”

She said they had sex twice in Labasa and twice in Tailevu.

The trial continues today.

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

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