Members of the public attending the bail application hearing of a pastor who allegedly raped five women were warned against holding up panties as a way of protesting during court proceedings.
The warning was issued on Thursday by Magistrate Magistrate’s David Shikwambana, during the case of a 43-year-old preacher from the Democratic Republic of Congo who faces four charges of rape and two of sexual assault.
Several women in the public gallery held up panties inside the court while others wore panties over their jeans.
“I know this is a sensitive case but I will not allow you to raise panties. As soon as I see a panty, I will make an order for this session to be heard in private,” the Magistrate said.
He, however, allowed the protestors to display their placards and also instructed the court orderly to read the messages on them into the court record.
That state alleges that the pastor had asked four female congregants, aged between 17 and 30, to remove their clothes before he smeared them with "anointing oil" and then he raped them.
The incidents allegedly happened between 2015 and 2018.
He was arrested two weeks ago and remains in custody until his next appearance on Wednesday.
-African News Agency (ANA)
