Charismatic Nigerian Pastor, Timothy Omotoso, has refused to plead to all the charges against him.
Omotoso and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zoleka Sitho, told Port Elizabeth High Court Judge Mandela Makaula on Tuesday that they were advised by their legal counsel, Peter Daubermann, to refuse to plead to the charges against them.
Judge Makaula then entered pleas of not guilty on their behalf. He also entered a plea of no jurisdiction with respect to rape and human trafficking charges which allegedly occurred in Israel and Nigeria.
Omotoso and his two co-accused face a total of 97 charges that include 63 main charges and 34 alternative charges of human trafficking, racketeering and rape.
Defence counsel, Daubermann said as much as his clients would like to provide the court with a plea explanation they cannot do so because the state has not furnished them with sufficient details on the alleged offences against his clients.
Judge Makaula cautioned Omotoso that there was a likelihood that he will be sentenced to life behind bars for each count if he is convicted on the charges against him.
Earlier on Tuesday, there was high drama in the court building when two off-duty police constables were ejected from the court building for allegedly misrepresenting themselves to officials at court.
The matter is now being investigated internally by the SAPS. Video footage shows one of the women engaged in an altercation with uniformed SAPS members before she was picked up and carried out of the High Court building.
The first witness is expected to take the stand on Wednesday.
