Former members of a 'cult-like' church say its link to the Eastern Freeway tragedy highlights the potential danger of some of its extreme teachings.
can now reveal that Simiona Tuteru, also known as Simon, the trucking boss who prayed with his employee, was a dedicated senior leader and former pastor in a small but devout Pentecostal church which former members have compared to a cult.The investigation into The Potter’s House Christian Fellowship has revealed a disturbing picture. Operating across suburban Australia and with roots in the US, former members say the church has an unhealthy level of control over the lives of its followers.
Stuart Schulze, the husband of Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, who died in the Eastern Freeway crash, told this masthead he was disturbed to learn about the group and its link to the incident which killed his wife.“I just couldn’t believe that these people could exist to do these things,” he said. “The beliefs that they have, and the influence they’re having over people ... It’s really quite strange. It’s difficult to understand.
One charge of failing to comply with duty under heavy vehicle laws remained, however a Supreme Court judgeon the case in March, ruling that the prosecution had abused the court process by repeatedly changing its case. This decision has been appealed by the DPP and will be heard in June. The couple said the revelations about Tuteru’s long-term membership of The Potter’s House had also shocked and concerned them.Truck driver Mohinder Singh, pictured outside court, was jailed over the Eastern freeway crash.During a 2021 committal hearing for Tuteru, killer truckie Singh, who was not a member of The Potter’s House, told a court he raised concerns about fatigue, his fitness to drive the night of the crash, and that he had been seeing witches.
Tuteru did not respond to requests for comment. He was a missionary for The Potter’s House in Africa and has also been a pastor and held other leadership positions for the church in Victoria.
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