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	Muslim Priest in Court for Rape News 24 September 8, 2008 http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2390065,00.html Johannesburg - A Muslim cleric accused of raping two young boys, appeared briefly in the Germiston Regional Court on Monday. Control prosecutor Neil Oberholzer said the maulana (priest) had his rights explained to him during his first court appearance and the case was postponed until Wednesday. It is expected that at this appearance that a bail application might be brought. Last week, two boys, aged 10 and 12, reported to the police that they had been raped, allegedly by a Muslim cleric at a Germiston mosque. Captain Steady Nawa said the boys were attending a religious lecture on Islam on August 25 when a 49-year-old maulana, who had been working at the mosque for three months, asked them to sleep over there. The boys alleged that the man watched movies with them and also asked them to take a shower with him. "The boys also alleged that they saw the maulana mix something like dagga and smoked it. He gave it to the 10-year-old to smoke, but the 12-year-old refused to smoke it, but he was forced to," said Nawa. After smoking the joint the maulana allegedly ordered the boys to undress while he also stripped naked. He allegedly ordered the 12-year-old to "play" with his genitals and then allegedly raped him in front of the 10-year-old. He also ordered them to wash after the alleged rape, said Nawa. On August 29, the man allegedly promised to give them R20 in exchange for their silence, but never did. Nawa said the boys informed a friend about the incident and were advised to tell their parents. The maulana faces two counts of rape. He remains in police custody in Boksburg prison.
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