‘Sex pest’ pastor back in the dock

A CHATSWORTH pastor, who abandoned his bail application after he was charged last month with the rape of a 12-year-old boy from his congregation, walked into the courtroom with a smile during his second court appearance last week.

Sitham Baram Michael Andrew Chetty, 54, appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court a month after he abandoned his bail application, on March 27.

State prosecutor, Levi Zietsman, told the court that the detectives from the Chatsworth Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit had completed their investigations.

Chetty’s attorney, Priyanka Naicker, said that Chetty had no objection to the case being adjourned to next month. She said his initial decision to abandon his bail was still standing.

Chetty, who is unmarried and had no children of his own, ran a church from an outbuilding in Bayview, for the past five years.

He was convicted in May 2019 for the sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy. At the time, he received a three year suspended sentence.

Chetty handed himself over to police in March this year after residents in Bayview threatened to burn down his house and kill him after the new allegations emerged.

It has been alleged that Chetty had molested the boy from September 2024, and groomed him by kissing and fondling him at his Bayview home.

In February this year, he allegedly raped the boy.

Brandon Pillay, chairperson of the Bayview Community Police Forum (CPF) and director of the Bayview Ubuntu Community Centre, said the community was pleased that the investigations had been completed.

“Thankfully he was remanded into custody and stuck to his decision to abandon bail. The community is pleased with the investigation and the justice system thus far. We will continue to keep a close eye on this case,” Pillay added.

THE POST