Pastor, senior church member on rape charges denied bail by Court
The Nasinu Magistrates Court has denied bail for a pastor and a senior church member yesterday. Pastor Waisake Tulavu, 46, is charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Senior church member Sakiusa Nakutoro, 50, is charged with one count of rape.
They both appeared before Magistrate Charles Ratakele in the Nasinu Magistrates Court yesterday.
The charges
On the first count, on May 11 in Nasinu, Tulavu allegedly performed a sexual act on a 22-year-old woman without her consent.
On the second count of rape, it is alleged that on the same day, Tulavu again performed a sexual act on the 22-year-old complainant without her consent.
On the third count, on the same day, Tulavu allegedly performed a sexual act on the 22-year-old complainant without her consent – for the third time.
In another alleged incident on June 16, Tulavu and Nakutoro allegedly raped a 29-year-old woman in Nasinu. Tulavu is also charged with one count of sexual assault on September 15. It is alleged that he unlawfully and indecently performed a sexual act on a 32-year-old woman. Tulavu and Nakutoro have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court also heard that all the complainants were not related to Tulavu and Nakutoro.
Magistrate Charles Ratakele said rape is a serious offence and it is in the best interest of the court to deny their bail application. The case has been adjourned to December 28 for mention.