The trial of 75-year-old church pastor Iowane Vakadranu has started in the High Court with the prosecution saying that they will present witnesses to prove that Vakadranu raped two of his followers between 2012 to 2014.
State prosecutor, Siteri Navia told the court that Vakadranu was the leader and pastor of Back to Eden Church Ministry which is a breakaway of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Navia said that the 75-year-old ministry leader and pastor was living with 12 members of a youth group in Vunika, Labasa.
He allegedly told the members of the group to leave school as education is not important.
Navia said Vakadranu also told them that they are not to go to hospital but to go to him when they got sick.
While in Labasa some youth members decided to leave and 5 members remained with Vakadranu.
The prosecution says there were daily one on one sessions between Vakadranu and the youth members. This is when the alleged incidents occurred.
The court heard that Vakadranu returned to Waidalice in 2014 and continued to do this under the pretence that God had commanded him to carry out the acts, and that he was the spouse of the two victims, aged 19 and 20 years.
Navia told the court that the offences occurred more than once and no exact dates have been given as the victims cannot recall the dates.
Vakadranu is charged with 4 counts of rape.
The alleged incidents occurred between 1st October, 2012 to 31st August, 2014 in Labasa and Tailevu.
Meanwhile Presiding Judge Justice Vincent Perera has today ordered the defence to advise his client to stop interfering with state witnesses.
The prosecution told the judge that Vakadranu spoke to one of the state witnesses and then kissed the witness after the court hearing last week.
Defence lawyer Semi Tinivata told the court that this is not unlawful.
However Justice Parera raised serious concerns about Tinivata's reasoning and told him to advise his client to refrain from interfering with state witnesses.
The first state witness is currently taking the stand.
