Fugitive 'Son of God' pastor arrested for sex crimes

Fugitive 'Son of God' pastor arrested for sex crimes

By Navitalai Naivalurua
Monday 09/09/2024
Apollo Quiboloy. [Image: The Strait Times]

An influential Filipino pastor wanted in the Philippines and the US for child sex trafficking has been arrested, ending a two-week-long standoff between police officers and his followers.

According to BBC, Police have been attempting to arrest Apollo Quiboloy, who claims to be the "Appointed Son of God", in a raid on his sprawling church compound.

Violent scuffles broke out between thousands of his followers and anti-riot police officers, with one church member dying of a heart attack during the raid.

Quiboloy, whose Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) claims to have seven million followers, has denied all charges against him.

In 2021, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Quiboloy with sex trafficking of children, fraud and coercion and bulk cash smuggling.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said he trafficked girls and women from the Philippines to the US, where they were forced to solicit money for a bogus charity.

The FBI says that he also required his female personal assistants, who are called “pastorals”, to have sex with him.

As all this was happening, Quiboloy was rising to national prominence under then-president Rodrigo Duterte, previously serving as spiritual adviser to the former leader.

However, his fortunes turned when Duterte stepped down in June 2022.

Filipino authorities soon charged him with child abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

For two weeks, thousands of policemen have been engaged in a standoff with Quiboloy's followers, as they raided his 30-hectare (75-acre) KOJC compound in Davao.

FEATURE NEWS
13-year-old student passes away following Tacirua accident
A 13-year-old student has died following an accident along Princes Road in Tacirua yesterday afternoon. Director Traffic, Senior Superintendent of P...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Namuamua Village Hall declared a Tobacco-Free Hall
In a bid to create more awareness of the issues concerning tobacco use, the villagers of Namuamua in Namosi have declared their village hall a ...
58 minutes ago

Heavy Rain Alert cancelled for Viti Levu and nearby smaller islands
A Heavy Rain Alert previously in force for Viti Levu, Yasawa, Mamanuca, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti Group and nearby smaller islands has been ...
59 minutes ago

Gender-based violence affects one in three women globally - Mitchell
Gender-based violence remains a devastating issue affecting one in three women globally. This was highlighted by KPMG Enterprise National Managing ...
1 hour ago

Police investigate teacher's sexual assault allegation
A teacher’s allegation that he was sexually assaulted by another teacher while accompanying him at a workshop during the school holidays in May is ...
2 hours ago

Woman found dead in Suva hotel was missing from last Wednesday
45-year-old Mozmin Khan who was reported missing at the Valelevu Police Station last Wednesday, was found dead in a Suva hotel yesterday. Police ...
4 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Doctor Alipate Vakamocea on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Fiji Medical Association President, Doctor Alipate Vakamocea will appear on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan The show will focus on ...
11 days ago

Mangal and Akauola on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Adult Teen Challenge Fiji Executive Director, Hemraj Mangal and Director, Matai Akauola appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan The ...
11 days ago

Sporting federations demand answers from FASANOC
National sporting federations who are part of Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee or FASANOC, are still calling for answers and ...
18 days ago

TOP