I was only following what was stated in the bible – Tulavu

Agape Healing Church Ministry Pastor, Waisake Tulavu who is accused of raping two of his church members and sexually assaulting another member has told the court that he was only following what was stated in the bible.

Tulavu pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

He allegedly committed the offences on five different occasions which were between 11th May to 15th September 2018. Tulavu took the stand this afternoon where he also told the court that his teachings were derived from the bible.

He said that deliverance is done when you touch where the pain is and it is dependent on the sickness the people present.

The accused also said that he got to know one of the women who had accused him of raping her after a church service in a village where he had said that there are two people present who need to have children.

Tulavu told the court that the 34-year-old woman and her husband then approached him and said they needed to be prayed for because they wanted to conceive.

He said he prayed for the couple in front of the people gathered for the service and then told both of them to come to the Agape Ministry in Cunningham.

Tulavu also told the court that the woman had come alone to him in April, 2018 and stayed in the church for three weeks.

He said he was conducting church services from his home and his wife, their three children and other members of the church lived with him.

When asked by the defence lawyer, Talei Kean what the woman did when she was in church, Tulavu said there would be prayers as she was not the only one to be prayed for and there would be many others.

He also told the court that while they prayed, there were different things that would be done for different sicknesses and deliverance would be done on those who had curses and those that were filled with demonic spirits.

Meanwhile, Reverend Penaia Karawa, who was the last state witness has told the court that deliverance is only done by praying and touching the persons head or shoulder.

He said that a male pastor cannot be alone with a female church member when she is being prayed over or deliverance is being provided and there is no procedure stated where the pastor can have sex with a church member.

Reverend Karawa also told the court that Tulavu had denied raping his church members when allegations were first brought forward by other church pastors during a church conference.

Reverend Karawa who was overseeing the Agape Ministries on behalf of the Assemblies of God Church had said he had heard rumours of malpractice from other church pastors where Tulavu and a group were having sex with their church members.

He said he had then reported the matter to the Church’s District Superintendent and Tulavu’s license was then suspended and the matter was also reported to the police.

The trial continues in the Suva High Court.