Omotoso wants High Court review of prohibited status

He wants a review of the Department of Home Affairs' decision to declare him a prohibited person in South Africa.

This after he was re-arrested on Saturday.

Omotoso appeared before the East London Magistrates Court on immigration law charges on Monday. 

Omotoso was released last month, eight years after he was jailed to be tried on charges of raping and sexually assaulting several young women from his church.

His acquittal drew anger across South Africa after the judge found that, while the pastor's explanations appeared improbable, state prosecutors had mishandled the case against him.

Immigration authorities and police arrested Omotoso in East London on Saturday morning, "just after church", national police commissioner Fannie Masemola told journalists.

"He will be facing charges related to violations of the Immigration Act, and he will appear in court on Monday," he said.

The 66-year-old pastor at the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church based in South Africa was arrested in 2017 on 32 charges, including rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Several young women, some of whom were still in school at the time, testified that they were handpicked by Omotoso, who would pray for forgiveness after each encounter with them.

Eastern Cape High Court judge Irma Schoeman criticised the prosecution's handling of the case, saying the state had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt its case against Omotoso and two assistants, who also faced charges. 

*Additional reporting by AFP 

 ALSO READ