The much-anticipated second bail application of the Nigerian pastor who is facing charges of human trafficking, sexual assault and the rape of young girls, was postponed until this afternoon due to an urgent application in the Port Elizabeth High Court relating to his work visa.
Timothy Omotoso is alleged to have raped and abused underage girls in his church. He also faces charges of human trafficking.
Read: The game plan changes for Omotoso in last lap of bail application
Appearing briefly before Magistrate Thandeka Mashiyi on Tuesday morning, the pastor’s new legal counsel, Advocate Alwyn Rossouw, asked for the matter to stand down until the afternoon, because they had an urgent application in front of Judge Glenn Goosen in the Eastern Cape High Court.
Rossouw told the court that they had received notification from the department of home affairs on August 14 advising them that the pastor’s current work visa would expire on August 30.
The 59-year-old pastor is alleged to have trafficked more than 30 girls and women, who were from various branches of his church.
The court was told in May that his modus operandi was to allegedly use recruiters who identified girls from poor, vulnerable families in the parish, ply them with money, transform their look completely and then take them to his house where he would allegedly make sexual advances.
Read: Rape-accused pastor has six dodgy passports
He has been in custody since his dramatic arrest at the Port Elizabeth Airport on April 20, by members of the SAPS tactical task team.
READ: Worshippers fill up PE court in support of pastor accused of sexual assault
The magistrate’s court was under lockdown on Tuesday morning, with a strong police presence from the tactical response unit and public order policing, as hundreds of the pastor’s supporters gathered outside in support of his application.
At least six armed police officers were inside the courtroom, wearing tactical gear and armed with rifles, while access to court was strictly monitored.
Rossouw said the application was seeking a court order to compel the police and correctional services to transport the Durban-based televangelist to the visa centre because he needed to be physically present to complete the application. – News24