Southport man, 50, accused of drugging and raping women in spiritual ceremonies

A Gold Coast man claiming divine powers ‘akin to Jesus’ has been charged with raping and sexually assaulting multiple women in “spiritual ceremonies”. Read about the court hearing.

A man accused of drugging and raping women participating in spiritual ceremonies believes he has divine powers “akin to Jesus or the prophet Muhammad”, a court has been told.

The 50-year-old, who cannot yet be named, had his matter mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court for the first time on Tuesday.

He faces two charges each of rape, sexual assault, and supplying dangerous drugs.

He is charged with a further four counts of stupefying in order to commit an indictable offence and one each of assault occasioning bodily harm and contravening an order necessary to access information electronically.

Police allege the man gave two women, aged 23 and 21, hallucinogenic drugs as part of a “spiritual healing ceremony” held at his Southport apartment on Friday, causing them to lose consciousness.

It is alleged he then raped and assaulted the 23-year-old, leaving her with neck and facial injuries.

The 21-year-old reported the alleged attack to police and the man was arrested at the scene in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police claim further investigations have revealed the man allegedly carried out similar ceremonies on September 19 and October 15 last year in Broadbeach.

It is alleged the man drugged and raped a 21-year-old woman on the first occasion, and drugged and sexually assaulted a 22-year-old woman on the second.

The court was told on Tuesday that the man was allegedly using ayahuasca in the ceremonies, a plant-based hallucinogenic drug designed to alter the user’s mind state and perception of reality.

Defence lawyer Danielle Heable, of Dib and Associates, said the hallucinatory blend was usually consumed as a tea during spiritual ceremonies guided by a shaman, which her client believed himself to be.

“My client genuinely believes he has this gift from a higher power that entitles him to perform these ceremonies and administer this substance,” Ms Heable said.

“He believes he holds these powers akin to the likes of Jesus and the prophet Muhammad.”

Ms Heable said the Southport man had been diagnosed with schizophrenia while serving jail time for unrelated and now-dated offences.

She told the court he had since stopped taking his medication and instead relied on strenuous exercise to regulate his symptoms.

“(His wife) tells me he identifies himself as a prophet who takes upon himself the gift to perform ceremonies,” Ms Heable said.

“He was told to embrace the voices in his head in a state of sobriety, because that was a gift he had that could be opened and enhanced with the tea.

“She said this happened about one year ago and his personality has not been the same since – he never had this false sense of religious leadership he once had.”

The court was told it was not yet clear whether the women knew they were taking a hallucinogenic substance.

Ms Heable said the reliability of the evidence could be called into question in later proceedings, as both the man and his alleged victims were under the influence of drugs at the time.

She said her client would live with his wife and start a mental health plan within days of his release if he were granted bail.

“I can indicate at this stage the charges are contested – he has no recollection of these alleged acts, other than that he performed these ceremonies as he does on a regular basis,” Ms Heable said.

The man’s bail was refused. He will be remanded in custody until his matter is next mentioned on March 14.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have information about the alleged offences to come forward.

Originally published as Southport man, 50, accused of drugging and raping women in spiritual ceremonies