Sunshine Coast Jehovah’s Witness figure to stand trial over sex charges

A businessman and former Jehovah’s Witness figure on the Sunshine Coast will stand trial after he allegedly groomed a man over 11 years and raped him while he chanted affirmations.

A Sunshine Coast man, involved in the area's Jehovah's Witness community, will stand trial in the District Court.

A former Jehovah’s Witness figure will stand trial against 52 allegations including rape and sexual procurement after his bail application was refused.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was present in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court as witnesses were cross-examined while the court was closed to the public.

Police alleged the man used his position of religious standing within the Jehovah’s Witness community to target young men in their late teens to early 20s over a 10-year period.

The man was charged with 54 offences including 21 counts of rape, 17 of sexual assault, torture and incest, the last of which was alleged to have been against his great-nephew.

After being granted bail, further allegations later came to light which culminated in the 62-year-old being charged with six more offences including two counts of distributing intimate images, sexual assault and attempting to pervert justice.

This led to the man having his bail revoked and he has been on remand since the new charges were laid in September last year.

Defence barrister Saul Holt contested the charges of incest and torture, arguing the legal definition of incest did not include great-nephews.

He also told the court the psychological trauma did not categorise under “severe pain and suffering” of the torture charge and asked it be dismissed.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan discharged the man of incest and torture, leaving 52 charges remaining.

The man did not enter any pleas.

Mr Holt also told the court the sexual encounters relating to two of the alleged victims were consensual.

Police prosecutor Bec Lambert said the matter of consent should be left to a jury to decide and that the victims were allegedly “fraudulently drawn into” the sexual encounters.

The court heard the man told the alleged victim to speak the affirmation “I am strong, I am calmful, I am confident” in his home office in order to “enhance his energy” and increase his confidence.

It is alleged he first told the alleged victim to say it alone in front of a mirror, then naked in an open closet in the same room as the man, followed by masturbation in front of the man until it ultimately led to penetration.

The alleged rape offences against this alleged victim range across 11 years.

Sergeant Lambert told the court the alleged victim, being raised in a religious community, was in fear of being ostracised if he did not listen to the man.

The court also heard of another alleged victim who asked the man for medical advice.

She said the man allegedly “took advantage” of the situation and told the alleged victim to insert a cream into his anus, and refused lend him the cream unless he did so in front of him.

It is alleged he claimed he needed to be present as the cream was prescribed to him.

Mr Callaghan directed the matter of consent was for a jury to hear and committed the matter to the Maroochydore District Court for trial.

Mr Holt then applied for bail in regard to second set of charges, which Mr Callaghan refused.

Mr Callaghan adjourned the matter until September 25.