Priest held over robbery

2008-02-18 19:06

Johannesburg - A 40-year-old priest and three other men have been arrested in connection with a rape and robbery at a church in Orange Farm, Gauteng police said on Monday.

Captain Johannes Motsiri said the men were arrested on Sunday following a break-in at a church a week ago during which two women were raped and electrical appliances stolen.

He said the priest allegedly arranged with the three to break into the church in an attempt to "fix" the other priest with whom he had a disagreement about funding.

The two priests allegedly arranged funding to help poor people in the area, but had a dispute about the paperwork. The arrested priest then wanted the other priest to leave the church.

He first approached three men about the break-in. They refused but told another group that the priest had asked them to commit the crime.

The second group allegedly broke in and raped two women staying there. They also stole the women's cellphones and fled with a number of electrical appliances.

The second group then told the first group that they had done the "job". The first group then reported the matter to police.

The four were due to appear in the Vereeniging Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on charges of robbery and rape.

- SAPA