POLOKWANE – The bishop is guilty. Lucas Peter Sinclair, who practised as a bishop in Westenburg for over 30 years, was on Tuesday found guilty on three counts of indecent assault.
Sinclair was apprehended in February 2016 on several counts of sexual assault and charges of public indecency after women came forward with allegations.
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He was eventually charged with seven counts of assault: three sexual assaults, three indecency assaults and an attempted sexual assault, all of which he pleaded not guilty to.
Sinclair’s trial started in March 2017.
At the time, his alleged victims also spoke out in a documentary aired on television, of how he would prey on girls who were new to the community, particularly girls who were in the dancing squad, or those working in the office during the church’s gap-year programme. He would do so, according to his victims, by winning their trust and then taking advantage of them. He was described as a kind and considerate man.
During judgment, handed down in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court, Presiding Officer, Magistrate Jane Ngobeni gave a summary of the case, having spanned over the course of two years.
Sinclair’s Attorney Lot Ramusi told BONUS they would first study the judgment before deciding on due course.
The prosecutor brought an application that Sinclair be kept in custody given the guilty verdict. Ramusi countered, asking for bail to be granted until sentencing, as his client had never missed a court appearance.
“We will have to study the judgment and once we have satisfied ourselves with the contents thereof, we will then apply the applicable remedy on behalf of our client,” Ramusi told Bonus.
Sentencing was set for 24 January while social work reports are awaited. Sinclair is not currently acting in a preaching capacity.
