Elcin pastor's alleged rape victim (15) has a baby
Police investigations into allegations of the rape of a 15-year-old girl by a Lutheran pastor at Okando village in the Omusati Region will also look into whether he fathered the girl’s baby.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) pastor stands accused of having had a sexual relationship with the girl.
It is alleged that the suspect raped the minor on several occasions between June 2020 and September 2022.
The pastor, who requested a transfer from the Okando congregation and is now based in the Okahao constituency, has not been arrested, pending further investigations.
Omusati police crime investigation coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Moses Simaho, confirmed the matter.
The case against the pastor was opened by an 18-year-old who lives in the same house as the 15-year-old victim.
Namibian Sun understands the ‘relationship’ between the teen and the pastor - who is married – continued after he relocated to Okahao, where the girl often visits.
When Namibian Sun contacted the pastor yesterday, he hung up the phone and has not been reachable since.
Confirmation-class hunter
Sources close to the matter alleged that the pastor preyed on congregants attending confirmation classes or those who attended Christian teachings at church. It is alleged that his wife was one of his students from those groups.
When rumours of the the man of the cloth spending too much time with the teenager started to swirl, he reportedly addressed them during a sermon.
“The pastor would come to church and preach that he is hearing about the rumours. He would tell the congregation that some of these people are his friends and, like everyone else, he too is allowed to have friends. ‘You Okando people like stories, stop spreading rumours,’ he would jokingly say in church,” the source narrated.
Predator pastors
This case comes just 48 hours after another pastor - Elikan Neliwa of Have Mercy Mission Ministries - was arrested at Onepandaulo village in the Omusati Region on Tuesday for allegedly raping three members of his congregation, aged 17, 19 and 24. All of them are learners at a local school.
He appeared in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court yesterday. He was denied bail and his case was postponed to 11 June.
The Elcin church last year dismissed Hendrick Shuudeni from his position as pastor, a decision informed by Section 86 of its constitution.
That section deals with devaluing the holiness of the job and how pastors should carry themselves in the line of that sacred duty.
Shuudeni was sacked after he reportedly engaged in a sexual relationship with a young man, whom he promised a job in return for sexual favours.
- [email protected]
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) pastor stands accused of having had a sexual relationship with the girl.
It is alleged that the suspect raped the minor on several occasions between June 2020 and September 2022.
The pastor, who requested a transfer from the Okando congregation and is now based in the Okahao constituency, has not been arrested, pending further investigations.
Omusati police crime investigation coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Moses Simaho, confirmed the matter.
The case against the pastor was opened by an 18-year-old who lives in the same house as the 15-year-old victim.
Namibian Sun understands the ‘relationship’ between the teen and the pastor - who is married – continued after he relocated to Okahao, where the girl often visits.
When Namibian Sun contacted the pastor yesterday, he hung up the phone and has not been reachable since.
Confirmation-class hunter
Sources close to the matter alleged that the pastor preyed on congregants attending confirmation classes or those who attended Christian teachings at church. It is alleged that his wife was one of his students from those groups.
When rumours of the the man of the cloth spending too much time with the teenager started to swirl, he reportedly addressed them during a sermon.
“The pastor would come to church and preach that he is hearing about the rumours. He would tell the congregation that some of these people are his friends and, like everyone else, he too is allowed to have friends. ‘You Okando people like stories, stop spreading rumours,’ he would jokingly say in church,” the source narrated.
Predator pastors
This case comes just 48 hours after another pastor - Elikan Neliwa of Have Mercy Mission Ministries - was arrested at Onepandaulo village in the Omusati Region on Tuesday for allegedly raping three members of his congregation, aged 17, 19 and 24. All of them are learners at a local school.
He appeared in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court yesterday. He was denied bail and his case was postponed to 11 June.
The Elcin church last year dismissed Hendrick Shuudeni from his position as pastor, a decision informed by Section 86 of its constitution.
That section deals with devaluing the holiness of the job and how pastors should carry themselves in the line of that sacred duty.
Shuudeni was sacked after he reportedly engaged in a sexual relationship with a young man, whom he promised a job in return for sexual favours.
- [email protected]
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