Conviction Christian institutions & contexts Evangelical, Pentecostal, and independent Suva, Fiji · 2020

Fiji: pastor sentenced to 16 years for raping and assaulting members of his church

Record class

Core record

Evidence status

Convicted

Authority role

pastor of a healing-ministry church

Organization

Agape Healing Church Ministry

Spiritual nexus

The three complainants were members of the defendant's own congregation, and the sentencing judge's remarks identify the betrayal of pastoral trust as the gravamen of the offending.

Pastoral or clerical authority
Spiritual healing or treatment

Evidence structure

Proceedings

2020-10-27 · conviction at trial and sentence

High Court of Fiji at Suva (Justice Daniel Goundar). Pastor Waisake Tulavu of the Agape Healing Church Ministry was found guilty of four counts of rape and one of sexual assault against three women, all members of his church, committed between May and September 2018. He was sentenced to 16 years for the rapes and four years concurrent for the sexual assault, with parole eligibility after 12 years. Justice Goundar said that instead of upholding the trust and security of his role as a pastor, his conduct had shocked the public conscience.

Documented coercion mechanisms

pastoral trust over members of his own congregation

Primary record

Sources

national broadcaster court reporting verdict and sentencing report 'Fiji pastor gets 16 years in jail for sexual assault', RNZ Pacific, Oct. 2020.: New Zealand's public broadcaster reporting the High Court conviction, the sentence, and the judge's remarks on the abuse of pastoral trust.
national newspaper court reporting verdict report 'Tulavu found guilty of rape and sexual assault', Fijivillage (2020).: Fijian outlet reporting the verdict, the church, and the congregant status of the three complainants.

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