NPA accuses Omotoso’s defence of delaying tactics
The trial of Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso has been postponed to February 2019.
The senior pastor of the Jesus Dominion International church and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, are facing several charges of rape, assault, racketeering, and human trafficking.
They briefly appeared in the Port Elizabeth High Court on Monday.
Omotoso has applied for the judge handling his case, Mandela Makaula, to recuse himself.
His defense lawyer Peter Daubermann has accused Makaula of being biased towards the first witness in the case, Cheryl Zondi.
Makaula wished Zondi luck for her examinations when she concluded her testimony last month.
Makaula dismissed the application for his recusal and Daubermann subsequently approached the Supreme Court of Appeal.
NPA spokesperson Tshepo Ndwalaza says Daubermaan has delayed the SCA decision on the matter.
“It was the request of the defense that they petition the SCA to recuse judge Makaula and also drop all the charges against Omotoso and his two co-accused. The delay has been that the defense has not sent the original copies of the documents that were supposed to be submitted, making it difficult for the SCA to deal with the matter as they only deal with original copies.”