BishopAccountability.org
	Church Members Attack Reporters As Priest Denied Bail The Voice December 11, 2009 http://www.thevoicebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1983:church-members-attack-reporters-as-priest-denied-bail&catid=35:court-stories&Itemid=54 Tempers flew as Eloyi church members turned on The Voice team and hurled insults at them after their pastor who was jailed for ten years was denied bail pending an appeal to the High Court recently. The pastor, Samuel Ntsebele, who once boasted in court that he was a celebrity pastor was sentenced to 10 years after he was convicted of having unlawful sex with a 14-year-old primary school girl who was a member of his church. The disgruntled members tried to stop the photographer from taking pictures as they were threatening to smash his camera. It was the police who came to the rescue and dispersed the young unruly church members who threw abuses at The Voice team. Magistrate Abigail Masawi shattered the accused’s dreams of freedom as she noted that Samuel Ntsebele had no prospect of success in his appeal. She said the evidence that was led before the court by the complainant and her friend who had accompanied the two when the sexual act occurred proved that the act took place. Masawi told the court that the accused was facing a serious offence and there was a need for him to spend at least some time behind bars. The magistrate told the court that she was not biased when she convicted and sentenced the accused. She said the accused was afforded time to seek a lawyer of his choice who he was convinced would better represent him. She hit back at the defence as she explained that penetration did occur though the accused denies having sexually exploited the girl. The complainant had earlier told the court that Ntsebele became angry when he was between her thighs as he wanted to know why she “did not taste” like a virgin. Her friend also told the court that she was left in a car when the two entered the house where it is suspected that the sexual act occurred. His new lawyer, Busang Manewe had contended that there was miscarriage of justice in the handling of the case. Manewe had asked for bail application for Ntsebele pending an appeal at the High Court. He further told the court that Ntsebele’s attorney who represented him during the trial influenced part of the miscarriage of justice. “There was a complete misunderstanding as Ntsebele and his then lawyer disagreed on certain aspect of the case. But I would also point out that the magistrate also played her role as she could not take some of the facts into considerations,”said Manewe.
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