A South African High Court has cleared Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso of all rape charges, following a lengthy trial that lasted eight years. Omotoso, who had been behind bars since his arrest in 2017, faced serious accusations of sexually assaulting young women in his church.
The case, which included 32 counts of rape and human trafficking, also involved his two co-defendants, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho. Despite the gravity of the allegations, Judge Irma Schoeman ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Omotoso, the senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International in Durban and founder of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach, was arrested shortly after landing in South Africa in April 2017. He was accused by several women of luring them to his residence in Umhlanga, where he allegedly assaulted them.
Following the acquittal, it was confirmed that Omotoso will be deported to Nigeria. His release marks the end of an ordeal that has drawn significant attention both in South Africa and internationally.
