Suva High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo has ruled that there is a case to answer in the rape trial of Pastor Jone Cokanauto who is charged for various counts of sexual offenses.

This after Defense Counsel Semi Valenitabua filed an application of no case to answer.

Valenitabua said that an offence committed prior to 2010 can’t be maintained under the Penal Code.

He also said all the four witnesses who are alleged victims in this case, have agreed in court that they consented to various sexual acts by the Pastor as they wanted to be cleansed.

Defense argued there was no offense committed and therefore Cokanauto should be acquitted.

Valenitabua also argued there were no false representation and said misinterpretation from the bible was of the complainants.

However Prosecution insisted the complainants did not give real consent and were misled by Pastor Cokanauto.

Judge Justice Salesi Temo rejected the defense application.

Justice Temo ruled the crimes are valid under the Penal Code therefore he said there is a case to answer on all counts.

Cokanauto is accused of raping four female members of Jezreel Lion of Judah Church between 2002 and 2015.