HARBEL, Margibi – Police at the Roberts International Airport Police depot have charged and sent to court a pastor for rape and sodomy.

Pastor Edmond Freeman, of the newly formed Eagle Chapel, was booked for sexually abusing a teenage member of his congregation. The church, which was founded by Freeman, is located in Unification City, near the Roberts International Airport.

The victim told investigators of the Women and Children Protection Unit of the Liberia National Police that Freeman had encouraged her to accompany him to neighboring Cotton Tree to speak to a member of the church who was ill.

To her surprise, Freeman took her to a neighboring motel instead and demanded that she sleep with him. The victim said he physically overpowered her and sexually abused her, before promising to give her US$30 at a later time.

The victim visited Freeman’s house along with a friend to collect the promised amount and met him and his wife home. Not wanting Freeman’s wife to know of the issue, the girls said they were there to collect their mother’s ‘lappa money’ owed by the pastor.

According to the victim’s friend, Freeman’s wife was apparently embarrassed by the situation and promised to shoulder the liability of her husband at a later date.

This prompted Freeman to complain to the police about the girls being disrespectful and tarnishing his character. At the police station, the victim and her friend were charged with disorderly conduct and ordered detained.

Out of fear of spending time in jail, the victim then narrated her ordeal with Freeman and the case took on a different dimension.

After cross-examination and questioning, Freeman admitted to having sexual intercourse with the 17-year-old girl but said it happened four months ago.

The police investigation also established from the local motel that Freeman and the victim had spent time at the motel in recent days.

After spending a night in jail and later being signed for, on Monday, the pastor was charged with rape and forwarded to the Unification City Magisterial Court.

Prior to establishing the Eagle Chapel Church, Freeman had broken away from the Jubilee Church in Unification Town.

Freeman is currently being detained at the Bondiway Prison in Harbel.

Featured photo by Ben