Obinim charged with physical abuse of 2 teenagers

The Leader of the International God’s Way Church (IGWC), Bishop Daniel Obinim, and two of his pastors were yesterday granted bail by the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly abusing two teenagers during a church service.

Bishop Obinim, Pastor Kingsley Baah and Pastor Solomon Abraham were each granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000, with one surety, by the court, presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku.

The case has been adjourned to November 24, 2016.

Bishop Obinim has been charged with physical abuse contrary to the Domestic Violence Act (732), while the two pastors have been charged with abetment of crime.

The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

In August this year, Bishop Obinim was alleged to have whipped two teenagers (a male and a female) during a church service because they were alleged to have engaged in fornication which resulted in a pregnancy.

The alleged incident, telecast on Bishop Obinim’s television station, OBTV, sparked public outcry, especially when it went viral on the Internet.

Unlike the situation last August when a huge number of people turned out to support Bishop Obinim during his interrogation at the Police Headquarters, yesterday the self-styled angel was accompanied to the court by only a handful of his supporters.

Wearing a blue-black suit and a pair of glasses, Bishop Obinim was full of smiles as he stepped into the dock to answer for his alleged offence.

Bail application

At yesterday’s hearing, the three accused persons were granted bail following a plea from their lawyer, Mr Raphael Poku Adusei.

Mr Adusei prayed the court to grant his clients bail because the charges levelled against them were misdemeanours and also he was “certain that they had not committed any offence’’.

He also explained that the trio were popular reverend ministers and would not “hide from anybody’’.

Facts

Presenting the facts, the prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abraham Annor, said the alleged incident was reported to the police by a legal practitioner.

He said the two victims, aged 16 and 14, were Bishop Obinim’s adopted children.

On August 17, 2016, the prosecutor explained, during a church service, “Bishop Obinim claimed he had a revelation from God that the two victims had been engaged in premarital sex, resulting in a pregnancy’’.

Ordered by Holy Spirit

Mr Annor added that Bishop Obinim announced that “he had been directed by the Holy Spirit to chastise them in front of the whole congregation”. 

“He immediately subjected the two victims to serious beatings with his black leather belt, in the full glare of the congregation,’’ he said.

According to the prosecutor, Bishop Obinim was assisted to indulge in the act by Pastor Baah and Pastor Abraham. 

“Pastor Baah held the girl and prevented her from running away, while Bishop Obinim continued to beat her. When she could not bear the pain anymore, she sought refuge with Bishop Obinim’s wife, Mrs Florence Obinim,’’ he explained.

Mr Annor added that Pastor Abraham brought the girl back for Bishop Obinim to continue with the beating.

“Bishop Obinim, assisted by the two pastors, continued to physically abuse the two teenagers till they were satisfied before releasing them,’’ he added.