Accused Jehovah’s Witness figure charged for interfering with witness

A Sunshine Coast Jehovah’s Witness figure accused of horrific sex crimes has been remanded in jail for fresh offences which allegedly occurred the same day he attended court.

A Jehovah’s Witness figure had his matter mentioned in Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Sunshine Coast religious figure previously accused of dozens of sex crimes has been arrested for new charges which have come to light.

The 62-year-old Mooloolaba man – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was taken into police custody and charged on Saturday, September 23.

He was charged with one count of attempting to pervert justice, two of distributing intimate images of another person without consent, one of threatening to distribute an intimate image, one of sexual assault and one of possessing an S4 medicine.

No pleas were entered.

Court documents state the man allegedly attempted to pervert the course of justice by interfering with a potential witness between February 17 and August 29, 2023.

Documents state the remaining offences allegedly occurred on February 17, 2023 – the same day his matter was mentioned in court relating to 54 offences including rape, sexual assault, incest and torture.

Police allege that on that same day he procured a person to witness an act of indecency without consent and possessed Viagra without a prescription.

No pleas have been entered for his previous offences.

It was previously reported the man held a position within the Jehovah’s Witness community.

Defence lawyer Belinda Robinson represented the man in court for the six fresh charges.

Ms Robinson told the court the man had other indictable matters to be mentioned on September 29, and asked for the new charges to be adjourned to the same date.

An application for bail was not entered and the man was remanded in custody.