Law catches up with Mose Ministries founder

The CBI arrests Pastor Gideon Jacob, accused of trafficking women, from Chennai after he arrived from Germany
Mose Ministries, the home founded by Pastor Gideon Jacob, in Tiruchy | express
Mose Ministries, the home founded by Pastor Gideon Jacob, in Tiruchy | express

TIRUCHY: Pastor Gideon Jacob (62), accused of trafficking women through his orphanage Mose Ministries, based in the city, was arrested by the CBI in Chennai in the wee hours on Saturday.  Jacob was on the run for several years and was reportedly whisked away for interrogation upon his arrival from Germany on Monday.

Mose Ministries, the home founded by Jacob, is embroiled in controversy since 2015 for housing 89 girls without authorisation. The home claimed that they were rescued from female infanticide from the villages around Usilampatti in Madurai district. Ever since, Jacob was on the run following which a look out circular was raised by KK police a year ago.  After his arrest, the CBI special team produced him before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in charge at Khajamalai and lodged in the central prison.

Speaking to Express, Jacob’s advocate said his client was asked by the CBI to appear in front of them for an inquiry. “Based on which Gideon appeared before them on the October 26 and again on 27. After the inquiry, the CBI carried out their arrests,” he added.  He has been charged under sections 120 (B), 361, 368, 201, 340, 370 of the IPC.

Director of Change India, an NGO, Paadam A Narayanan had been fighting for the girls and sought reunion with their parents.  The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, where the trial in the Mose Ministries case is on, had allowed the girls who attained 18 years of age to take a decision on their future life. Out of 89 girls in the home, 82 girls are majors. The court also directed the Tiruchy district administration to shift the seven minor girls out of Mose Ministries as it was unauthorised.

The court-ordered DNA test, conducted in August 2016, revealed that genes of 32 girls in the home matched with 31 parents. It may be recalled that Esther, 25 one of three sisters in the home will marry Gladis, 27 a sound engineer working with the church run by Jacob in Tiruchy on January 30. Her parents allegedly left all the sisters in the home two decades ago. Esther is not one among the 32 on whom DNA test was conducted.

Was called for inquiry by agency, says lawyer
Gideon Jacob’s advocate said his client was told by CBI to appear before it for an Inquiry

Based on this, Gideon appeared before the probe agency on the October 26 and again on 27. After the inquiry, the CBI arrested him. Jacob has been charged under sections 120 (B), 361, 368, 201, 340, 370 of the IPC

Mose Ministries is embroiled in controversy since 2015 for housing 89 girls without authorisation. The home claimed that they were saved from female infanticide from villages around Usilampatti

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