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AAP
AAP
National
Robyn Wuth

Qld parishioner charged with rape, torture

A parishioner charged with raping and torturing boys was due to face Maroochydore Magistrates Court. (David Clark/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

A senior church member has been charged with the rape, torture and assault of teenage boys on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Police will allege the 61-year-old abused his position of religious standing within the Jehovah's Witnesses community to sexually assault young men between 2008 and 2018.

Detectives arrested the man on Sunday at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.

The man faces 21 counts of rape, 17 counts of sexual assault, 13 counts of procuring sexual acts by false pretence and one count each of incest, torture and common assault.

The alleged offences relate to four male victims aged in their late teens to early twenties.

Detectives fear there could be more victims and are appealing for anyone with information to contact the police.

The man, who cannot be identified under Queensland law, was due to face Maroochydore Magistrates Court court on Monday.

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