Lynn Williams
A woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Nigerian Pastor Timothy Omotoso took to the witness stand on Thursday as the trial continue in the Gqeberha High Court.
Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho are standing trial on over 90 charges.
The witness, who was 17-years-old at the time, explained that the alleged assault took place in a Bloemfontein hotel room in 2009 after
Omotoso had paid for her flight from Gqeberha.
She said Omotoso had summoned her to his hotel room after a church service, where he instructed her to undress and massage his feet.
The woman said that after the alleged assault, Omotoso said a prayer and instructed her to clean herself in his hotel bathroom.
According to her, the incident had left her confused, shocked, and numb.
She testified that she was introduced to the Jesus International Dominion Church by her stepmother and that Omotoso had noticed her after she joined the church choir.
He gave her money for a cell phone so that they could communicate.
The court also heard that before the alleged incident in Bloemfontein, the witness and other members of the church traveled to Cape Town for a church crusade where Omotoso called her to his room for the first time.
"He asked me how the journey went, praised me for how pretty I looked, and then he asked me how close I wanted him to be.
"This question confused me, but I told him I wanted him to be my spiritual father. He was not impressed and dismissed me from his room."
When the woman returned to Gqeberha she kept in touch with Omotoso by phoning him and sending him messages, as per his instructions.
She recalled an incident where she had forgotten to communicate with him for two days.
"He angrily phoned me at 3 am. He said I was misbehaving and accused me of busying myself with boys.
"I was scared of him so I apologized."
Her flight to Bloemfontein was arranged the next day.
