Timothy Omotoso rape trial: Witness says Omotoso was looking for a girlfriend
New witness Hlubikazi Faleni told the Eastern Cape High Court in Port Elizabeth that he was looking for a father figure but Omotoso saith that she could be his girlfriend before allegedly touching her.
Nigerian Pastor Timothy Omotoso at the Port Elizabeth High Court on Tuesday, 9 October 2018. Picture: Raahil Sain / ANA
A new witness, who took the stand in the trial of rape-accused televangelist Timothy Omotoso and co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho on Thursday, said she was standing in court because of Omotoso.
The three face 97 charges, including rape, human trafficking and racketeering, with 47 witnesses to testify against them.
Hlubikazi Faleni, also known as Vicky, was mentioned in testimony by earlier witnesses in the Eastern Cape High Court in Port Elizabeth.
The 26-year-old appeared to swiftly identify the accused in court.
“That’s Tim, that’s Lusanda and that’s Zukiswa,” she said.
Faleni recalled how she joined the East London branch of the Jesus Dominion International Church in 2009.
“I joined the church as a singer, under Pastor Mphathisi Mdyesha. Tim was the main man in the church. I first saw Tim in 2009 in Port Elizabeth. I’m here today because Tim Omotoso molested me,” she told the court.
Faleni’s testimony related to several charges against Omotoso, including trafficking in persons for sexual purposes, sexual assault and rape.
She told of how she met a woman called “Sindi” in 2011, before joining the musical group Grace Galaxy in 2013.
Faleni said she met Omotoso in church.
“After I sang, he called me to his office in the church. He said I have joined the group now and should go to the house in Umhlanga. He paid for a cab for me to get to the house.”
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She said she arrived at the house and found about 25 girls, some who looked like they were still in their teens.
“I was surprised to see these young girls wearing short clothing in the house of the man of God.”
Faleni said “Fezeka” – who has since allegedly fled – Sindi and Sulani welcomed her.
“They told me how to behave in the house, to stay clean all the time; that I can’t go to Omotoso without bathing first.”
Faleni – who was travelling between East London and Durban – told the court Omotoso paid for her travel.
She detailed an encounter that took place during one of her trips to Durban.
“One evening, I was told by Fezeka that accused one wanted to see me in his room,” she added.
“I went up to his room and when inside, he said I must lock the door.”
Faleni said she went to kneel next to his bed.
“He asked me, ‘What would you like me to be to you?’ I responded, ‘I’d like you to mentor me, be a father figure to me because my father passed away a long time [ago]’.”
She said he responded: “I’m not here to play a father figure role. What do you want me to be in your life?”
Faleni said she told him she would like him to be her musical mentor.
He then allegedly told her: “I don’t like slow people. I can help you, you can be my girlfriend.”
She said she told him again she would like him to be a mentor in life and music, to which he allegedly instructed her to “go and call Fezeka”.
“I went down to find Fezeka. She asked me what happened. I told her and she told me, ‘You need to be flexible, you need to listen to accused one (Omotoso)’. Fezeka said accused one doesn’t like slow people.”
“I went back inside the room. He told me to lock the door; I did.”
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Faleni said she then went around the bed to kneel down in front of him.
She said Omotoso then told her to get onto the bed.
“He told me to lay on top of a towel that was on the bed. He told me to remove my pyjama trousers, a three-quarter trouser, and lay on top of the towel on the bed when done.
“I did as he said. I got on top of the towel. Then he told me to remove my panties.”
Faleni said it was then that she noticed he was naked from the waist down.
“He then climbed on top of me. He put his private parts in between my thighs, started satisfying himself until he ejaculated.”
She said he then told “me to wipe myself with the towel I was laying on top of, he told me to dress up and put the towel in a laundry basket that was in the room”.
“Before going to put the towel in the bathroom, he said we should pray, he started the prayer – ‘God have mercy on us’.”
The trial continues on Friday.
News24
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