Tulavu Trials: Pastor Told Woman To Have Sex With Him To Be Delivered, Court Told
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Tuesday 06 October 2020 | 08:45
Pastor Waisake Tulavu outside the High Court in Suva on October 6, 2020. Photo: Ashna Kumar
A prosecution witness alleged that a pastor told her that in order to remove the curse of not being able to bear a child, she must be ‘delivered’ by him.
This was the testimony from the first of three witnesses in the trial of Pastor Waisake Tulavu. He is charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The complainant was allegedly told by Tulavu that being delivered meant to have sexual relations with him.
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It is alleged that Tulavu committed the offences between May 11 and September 15, 2018 at Nasinu while the women were attendees of the Agape Healing Church Ministry.
The first day of trial was heard before Justice Daniel Goundar.
Tulavu is represented by counsels Sokoveti Daunivesi, Talei Kean and Epeli Sau from the Legal Aid Commission.
The state is represented by Sadaf Shameem and Unaisi Tamanikayaroi from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The mother of two adopted children said she heard of Tulavu’s supposed healing powers in her village in Naitasiri.
There, she went to Suva to seek help.
She recalled how Tulavu allegedly told her to remove her undergarments and there he fingered her.
She insisted to Tulavu that she did not want to be delivered by anyone other than her husband.
The trial continues before Justice Goundar today.
Edited by Ranoba Baoa
Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj
