Tulavu Trials: Complainant Alleges Pastor Had Sex With Her To Heal Her Curse
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Wednesday 07 October 2020 | 10:28
Pastor Waisake Tulavu outside the High Court in Suva on October 6, 2020. Photo: Ashna Kumar
A 31-year-old woman has alleged that Pastor Waisake Tulavu had sexual intercourse with her for her to be healed from her curse and for her family’s sake.
She is the second of three complainants who took stand in court yesterday, before Judge Justice Daniel Goundar, to give evidence against Tulavu.
Tulavu is charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
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It is alleged that between May 11 and September 15, 2018, at Nasinu, Tulavu allegedly raped these three women who were attendees of the Agape Healing Church Ministry.
Tulavu is represented by counsels Sokoveti Daunivesi, Talei Kean and Epeli Sau from the Legal Aid Commission.
The state is represented by counsels Sadaf Shameem and Unaisi Tamanikayaroi from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The complainant told the court she came to know of Pastor Tulavu when he conducted a church service at a village in Naitasiri.
She told the court that she was a regular attendee of the Church and often attended every fortnight.
The complainant recalled that one night in May 2018, while she was at the church camp, a girl went to wake her up at around 1am and told her that the Pastor wanted to see her at the porch.
Hearing this, the complainant went to meet the Pastor and was informed by him that she needed to be delivered (to have sexual intercourse) by an elder of the church.
The complainant told the court that she refused, however, the Pastor told her that it was the only way to be healed by having sexual intercourse.
She recalled that she had sexual intercourse with Tulavu and a church elder.
She told the court that she had not expected such an act from the Pastor and did not tell anyone about the incident because she was ashamed of what had happened and that no one would believe her.
The trial continues before Justice Goundar today.
Read the first day of trial here: Pastor Told Woman To Have Sex With Him To Be Delivered, Court Told
Edited by Selita Bolanavanua
Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj
