Drama at Omotoso trial
Two policewomen thrown out of court
A fracas took place in the Port Elizabeth high court yesterday when two off-duty policewomen were thrown out of court minutes after allegedly claiming to be part of controversial Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso’s security detail.
Space in the court was at a premium as scores of the televangelist’s followers flock to the courtroom to offer him support as he stands trial for human trafficking and rape, among other charges.
Court officials only allow 50 people into the public gallery.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the policewomen were removed from the court after being questioned by investigating officer.
“According to information received‚ the two constables One of the off-duty cops argues with a policeman.
arrived in court earlier‚ produced their appointment certificates and informed the court security that they were there as ‘protocol observers’.
“They were allowed into the court. However, the security reported the matter to the investigating officer who approached the women and questioned them‚” Naidu said.
“They were removed from the court by uniformed officials. Supporters followed them out and there was a commotion outside the courtroom.
“The constables were taken away by the supporters. The incident is being internally investigated by police.”
Omotoso‚ 58‚ and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani‚ 36‚ and Zukiswa Sitho‚ 28‚ face 63 charges in total – ranging from racketeering to sexual assault and rape allegedly committed across SA and abroad‚ including in Nigeria and Israel.
Omotoso was arrested in April last year at the Port Elizabeth International Airport.
He has unsuccessfully applied for bail numerous times, including approaching the high court and the Supreme Court of Appeal to have his bail refusal reviewed.
The alleged offences took place between 2012 and 2016, with some of the alleged victims just 13 years old.
Sulani and Sitho were each granted R2 000 bail in December. The altercation between police and the two women was caught on camera, with one of the women struggling to escape a policeman’s grip.
On Monday, Omotoso’s legal team unsuccessfully tried to have the charges against him quashed.