By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
A South African based Nigerian Pastor, Timothy Omotoso, who was recently acquitted of charges of rape, sexual assault was re-arrested by the police on Saturday morning.
Reports by South African media organizations indicated that Omotoso was arrested early Saturday morning and is being held at Mdantsane police station over alleged immigration offences.
SowetanLIVE reported that Omotoso was arrested by officials South African Department of Home Affairs and police and will be arraigned over immigration offences.
Police confirmed that Omotosho was arrested on Saturday morning over alleged violation of Immigration Act
“Members of Department of Home Affairs and police arrested Omotoso. He will surely appear in court on Monday and everybody will know what charges he is facing, but it is immigration-related matters,” Police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola told the SowetanLive.
The Police chief said the Immigration Department will elaborate more on the charges in due course.
Omotoso, also a televangelist, was released from jail after eight years following a not guilty verdict by court on charges that he raped women who are members of his church located in the city of Port Elizabeth South Africa.
Omotoso denied the 32 charges in a trial that was broadcast live and attracted interest across South Africa.
The Judge had accused prosecutors of mishandling the case while declaring Omotoso not guilty of the charges.
The South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) also agreed that the initial prosecutors in the case acted improperly.
The Nigerian pastor co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also found not guilty.
South African media outlet News24 had reported had earlier indicated that Omotoso will be deported to Nigeria after he was freed of the rape charges.
However, he was rearrested on Saturday morning.
