‘Son of God’ cult leader, 74, denies sex trafficking charges after he’s arrested in compound where he ‘kept women as sex slaves’ and ‘abused children’
Published By admin with Comments 0
A celebrity pastor who calls himself the ‘Appointed Son of God’ has pleaded not guilty to several criminal charges including sexually abusing a child and sex-trafficking.
Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Philippine-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) with six million followers, was arrested on Sunday at the KOJC’s 30-hectare compound in southern Davao city after a weeks-long police operation.
The 74-year-old was led handcuffed into the heavily guarded Pasig courthouse in a bulletproof helmet and flak jacket this morning, with Filipino police concerned about a potential attempt on his life.
He told his followers to ‘stay strong’ before police took him into the courtroom along with several of his alleged accomplices.
A tip off from a ‘whistleblower’ helped police detain the preacher in his compound where it is thought he stored captive women and children as sex slaves.
He stands accused of heinous crimes, indicted in the United States for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and the sex trafficking of children, among a litany of other alleged offences.
The self-anointed ‘Son of God’ will remain in detention at a police headquarters for now, the police said, along with several of his acolytes.
‘He is innocent,’ his lawyer, Israelito Torreon, told reporters after his client’s first arraignment today.
Quiboloy also pleaded not guilty to the sexual abuse charges at a Quezon city court via teleconferencing.
But police said more people had come forward alleging they had been sexually abused by him almost immediately following his arrest.
Content retrieved from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13846707/Son-God-cult-leader-Philippines-denies-sex-trafficking-charges-women-slaves.html.
