{"id":964213,"date":"2024-07-04T05:29:41","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T05:29:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8888\/dm-simulator-v2\/?p=964213"},"modified":"2024-07-04T05:29:41","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T05:29:41","slug":"rape-accused-pastor-timothy-omotoso-and-co-accused-back-in-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elections.sabc.co.za\/elections2024\/rape-accused-pastor-timothy-omotoso-and-co-accused-back-in-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Rape-accused Pastor Timothy Omotoso and co-accused back in court"},"content":{"rendered":"

The<\/span> case against rape-accused Pastor Timothy Omotoso<\/a> and his two co-accused, Zukiswa Sitho and Lusanda Sulani, continues at the Gqeberha High Court in the Eastern Cape today.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the last appearance in court last week, the defence asked Judge Irma Schoeman to drop all charges against the accused, stating that the case was unconstitutional and unfair.<\/span><\/p>\n

This<\/span> is because of the alleged questionable and unethical conduct of former prosecutor, Nceba Ntelwa.<\/span><\/p>\n

In February, Omotoso and his two co-accused notched up a partial victory when Schoeman ordered that <\/span>special<\/span> entries <\/span>be made<\/span> in their court file.<\/span><\/p>\n

The judge granted only three of the seven irregularities that the defence believes have been committed on the part of the state.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three entries are that the Ntelwa had proposed to his superiors that three State witnesses commit perjury, <\/span>the failure of all advocates involved to disclose contradictions in witness testimony and the fact that Ntelwa\u2019s superiors allowed him to continue to prosecute the <\/span>case <\/span>despite his questionable conduct.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other entries that Judge Schoeman did not allow into the court file, pertain to the court\u2019s failure to investigate whether Ntelwa had suggested to the witnesses to commit <\/span>perjury<\/span>\u00a0and the state\u2019s failure to disclose that Ntelwa formed a WhatsApp group on which he communicated with complainants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Schoeman said some entries had become irrelevant because the accused <\/span>were acquitted<\/span> on <\/span>certain<\/span> charges, in which witnesses were allegedly encouraged to suborn themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

In\u00a0<\/span>October last year<\/span><\/a>, a Section 174 application to have the charges dropped against the accused was unsuccessful.<\/span><\/p>\n

The state wanted more time to go through the request.<\/span><\/p>\n

VIDEO | Timothy Omotoso rape trial resumes on Monday – Pastor Solomon Izang weighs in:
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