spiritual healer

The man, who is a pastor based in Morobe, will spend 8 years, four months, two weeks and 3 days at Bomana after the Waigani National Court deducted time spent in custody (1 year, 7 months) from the head sentence of 10 years.

The court also ordered for his repatriation to Morobe after the completion of his term.

Justice Panuel Mogish, in handing down his sentence, said pastors of churches hold sacred role in society where people place a high level of trust on them.

The girl was 13 years old when she was violated by the man. He used his fingers to sexually penetrate her twice on 13 September 2015.

The man pleaded guilty today. The court accepted his plea and his lawyer, and the state, went into making submissions on the appropriate penalty the court should impose on him.

The state submitted in court that be the nature of the act (sexual penetration), be it by finger or penile, a pastor who is seen as a spiritual healer violated a girl under the pretext of praying for her behind closed doors.

He is on trial for sexually assaulting a minor; a girl aged 13 at their family home under the pretext of praying with her.

His case was listed for trial today but later deferred to next week Monday.

The man was committed by the District court on March 11, last year to stand trial. 

According to the summary of facts that was put before the district court; the incident took place on 13 September 2015.

The defendant was brought to Port Moresby in August 2015 by the family of the victim after they heard of his spiritual healing powers.