A LOCAL pastor in East Are ‘are, Malaita Province has been committed to stand trial in the High Court.
This was after a short form preliminary inquiry was conducted on the pastor’s case yesterday.
The pastor who could not be named to protect the identity of the alleged victim is accused of raping a young member of his church youth ministry.
The committal papers that include the statement of six prosecution witnesses, brief summary of the case, and the pastor’s record of interview with police were tendered to the court by Public Prosecutor Olivia Ratu.
Having looked through the papers, Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika said, he was satisfied there was sufficient evidence to commit the accused to the High Court for trial on the charge of rape.
The 42-year-old pastor allegedly raped the 14-year-old church youth on July 25 last year when the alleged victim went to attend a youth program that evening.
It was alleged the accused raped her under the church bell when she went outside to ring the church bell.
The matter was reported to the police on 27 September 2014 and the pastor was arrested on 27 April 2015.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
