The Nigerian pastor who has been accused of s*xually assaulting girls in a South Africa city, is facing stiff problems as his trial continues.
Timothy Omotoso, the charismatic Nigerian pastor who is being tried in South Africa, failed to present any new facts to the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court in his second bail application today, and will therefore remain behind bars for now.
According to News24, Magistrate Thandeka Mashiyi, who presided over both of Omotoso's bail applications, found that the Durban-based televangelist’s new legal counsel, headed by Advocate Alwyn Rossouw SC, had failed to present any new facts to the court.
The 59-year-old pastor is facing charges of human trafficking, sexual assault and the r*pe of young girls.
Mashiyi further found that Rossouw's arguments that Omotoso's status was that of a legal immigrant, that he had a fixed address and the affidavit submitted regarding the pastor's charitable work and the impact his incarceration has had, did not amount to exceptional circumstances.
Rossouw also presented the court with a character reference, which detailed how the pastor was actively involved in communities around the country through his televangelist work and as the head of the Timothy Omotoso Global Outreach programme.
Mashiyi said she could not understand why this information had not been placed before the court in the first application, as Omotoso had chosen to supply an affidavit in his defence and could have easily included the information there.
She also ruled that the argument relating to Omotoso's address had been dealt with extensively in the first application so there was nothing new in Rossouw's submissions.
"It is my conclusion that the applicant has failed to present any new facts in this matter," she said.
NPA’s Tshepo Ndwalaza said they were happy with the outcome of the second bail application.
"As the NPA we feel vindicated. We feel we have been able to convince the court this man must not get bail. He has a case to answer for in the court of law."
Hundreds of the pastor's supporters once again gathered outside in support of the televangelist, while members of the African National Congress also gathered to call for his bail to be denied.
