Popular evangelist Sam Harter arrested for sexually assaulting woman on marriage promise

PANDALAM: A popular evangelist was arrested for sexually assaulting a young woman on the promise of marriage and extorting Rs 16 lakhs. Pastor Sam Harter (37) of Rohini Bhavan in Anchuthengu, Thiruvananthapuram, was arrested by the Pandalam police from Irinjalakuda. The complainant is a young woman who works as a nurse abroad. The accused, who was produced in court, has been remanded.

Pastor Sam Harter organised large evangelistic meetings across Kerala. Sam became intimate with the woman while attending the evangelistic meeting. He is married and has an 11-year-old child. However, Sam currently lives with another woman and has a child from this relationship.

Sam Harter also has financial fraud cases pending against him at Pathanamthitta and Thiruvalla police stations. The accused was arrested by a special investigation team comprising Pandalam Station House Officer TD Prajeesh, SI Rajan PK, ASI B Shine, and police officers S Anvarsha, Ranjith R and Niyaz.