Twenty three out of the 27 Methodist Church ministers and officials charged with organizing a meeting in contravention with the Public Emergency Regulation today were discharged today by Magistrate Thusara Rajasinghe.

This is in relation to a few church meetings where they were to discuss what was the next course of action after hearing that the Annual Church Conference was being put on hold, despite the Per stating that no large gatherings were to take place.

Magistrate Rajasinghe highlighted an application of a nolle prosequi filed by the DPP last week where in the application it was mentioned that there was insufficient evidence against the 23.

However the four remaining senior ministers including Reverend Ame Tugawe, Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, Reverend Manasa Lasaro and Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi are expected to go through a three week hearing.

They are facing two counts of organizing a meeting and participating in contravention of the PER.

In Court today Defense Counsel, Filimoni Vosarogo said that he had been talking with his clients on the scope of the upcoming trial which is expected kick off on the 29th November this year.

In court today, 26 ministers and officials appeared except Reverend Apete Toko who is currently out of the country for a church meeting.


Story by: Tokasa Rainima