Panafrican News Agency

Former Santomean pastor arrested in Côte d'Ivoire to be released soon

Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe (PANA) - A former Santomean pastor of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Iudmilo Veloso da Costa, who was arrested a month ago in Côte d'Ivoire for cybercrime and defamation, could be released in the coming days, according to the Santomean government.

A press statement from the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities, said that the State of Sao Tomé et Principe has hired "a law firm to appeal to the decision of Côte d'Ivoire's court of appeal".

The document sent to PANA also states that the Santomean government is awaiting the decision of the appeal court in the coming days.

However, since the leaders of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Côte d'Ivoire have already withdrawn the complaint against the Santomean national, there are only a few steps left to take at the level of the judiciary in Côte d'Ivoire, Adelino Lucas, Secretary of State for the Media in Sao Tome and Principe said.

In order to ensure the continuity of the work and its follow-up, the Director of Communities and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sao Tomé and Principe is in Abidjan, the Ivorian commercial capital.

The former pastor had been working in Côte d'Ivoire for 11 years, serving a one-year prison sentence for cybercrime, for defaming his colleagues through social media under a false profile.

The arrest of the former missionary led to a deadly demonstration in Sao Tomé, the destruction of several temples of the congregation and the burning of cars and motorbikes.

The incident forced several Brazilian pastors and other nationalities to leave the archipelago after the burning and destruction of the largest temple and headquarters of the congregation, located near the National Police Command.

-0- PANA RMG/DD/CJB/JSG/BBA/MA 28Oct2019