The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will today have the first part of its appeal process in the Timothy Omotoso and co-accused case heard by the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Gqeberha.
The NPA is challenging Omotoso’s acquittal of all 32 charges that were levelled against him, comprising of rape and human trafficking after the trial went on for eight years.
The move by the NPA follows intense public outcry from citizens, civic organisations, and Omotoso’s alleged victims when he and co-accused walked free from the charges.
Despite him having already left South Africa to go back to his home country Nigeria, the NPA is of the view that it will be able to nail him this time around.
“This follows a directive by Schoeman J after the State sent a request for clarification of factual findings in her judgement before the State can request reservation of questions of law in terms of section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 for consideration by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
This is the only limited mechanism in which the state can appeal an acquittal judgement in South African law,” read a statement from the NPA.
The outcomes of this case led to calls for the NPA’s Head, Advocate Shamila Batohi, to step down from her position, due to a lack of confidence in the entity’s ability to prosecute.
Batohi however defended the NPA’s work and vowed to give justice to Omotoso’s victims and others impacted by various crimes across the country.
