74-year-old church pastor and a Turaga Ni Koro charged with rape in two separate cases

A church pastor and a Turaga Ni Koro have been charged with rape in two separate cases.

74-year-old pastor of the Back to Eden Church Iowane Vakadranu has been charged with five counts of rape.

Vakadranu allegedly raped five women under the pretext that he had healing powers.

This occurred on different occasions in Tailevu.

The incident was reported at the Korovou Police Station earlier this week.

Vakadranu appeared in the Nausori Magistrates Court in the last hour.

He is remanded in custody and will appear in court on the 4th of December.

In the other case, a 53-year-old Turaga Ni Koro has been charged with raping a 12-year-old student between July and November this year.

The incident was reported at the Tukavesi Police Station on Wednesday.

The Turaga Ni Koro has been charged with eight counts of rape.

Acting Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho says these two cases like other sexual attacks against women and children continue to be a serious concern.

Qiliho says what is even more concerning is that those who we deemed as holding positions of trust and a solace during times of trouble and need are the very ones preying on those we are trying to protect.

He says Police will continue to call on religious bodies, the vanua and civil society to help them find ways to fight this social ill from within the communities as they try to protect the women and children from becoming victims of sexual attacks.