All Nations Church leader Reverend Epeli Ratabacaca’s trial started in the High Court today with the first prosecution witness taking the stand.
The woman whose identity has not been disclosed told Judge Justice Paul Madigan that she went to Ratabacaca for assistance after giving birth to her second child in 2000.
She said she got sick again last year after giving birth to her fourth child and also went to Saint Giles Hospital for counseling.
She told Justice Madigan that she went to see him again in June last year with her son.
She alleged that Reverend Epeli Ratabacaca gave her $20 taxi fare and told her to drop her son at home and meet him at a bus stop in Tamavua.
The woman told Justice Madigan that she followed the instructions where Ratabacaca came to pick her in a rental car and took her to a spa for steam bath at Sports City.
She alleged that Ratabacaca paid for the steam bath and told her that another woman will take her to a room however he came back after a few minutes saying that everybody is busy and he will take her.
She told the judge that Ratabacaca told her to get into a towel while he did the same.
Reverend Ratabacaca, who is charged with one count of indecent assault and two counts of rape, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case continues.
Story by: Sneh Chaudhry & Praneeta Prakash
