By Hilton Mwabili
A 70-year-old clergyman in Mpeketoni has been charged with defilement of five minors among them four boys aged 17 and a 10 year-old-girl.
The suspect John Muchine of Christian Worship International Ministries, appeared before Mpeketoni Resident Magistrate Pascal Nabwana and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The charges were that, on diverse dates of October 2020 and January 16 2021 at Sinambio village in Mpeketoni, Lamu County, he intentionally and unlawfully sodomized the four minors aged 17 years.
He was further slapped with an additional count of committing an indecent act with a child contrary to section 1 of the sexual offences Act no 3 of 2006.
Muchine further denied defiling a 10 year old girl who had attended service in his church, on December 5 last year at Sinambio village in Mpeketoni.
According to police among, his victims are an imbecile and a mentally challenged minor.
The police report further indicates that the pastor abused the minors inside his church after they attended Sunday school service.
The magistrate issued orders to the area Chief and the Assistant chief of Sinambio village to ensure that the matter was not resolved outside the court.
“Orders are here by issued to ensure that the accused, the family of the victims, the church or any other party does not attempt to resolve the matter until it is heard and determined by the court,” said Nabwana.
He was released on a bond of Sh300,000 with one similar surety with an alternative of Sh150,000 cash bail
The matter has been set for hearing on March 24 and March 25.
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