The Sydney Morning Herald, one of Australia's most prominent newspapers, reports that this is not the only property development by the tax-exempt OneJesus Limited, as it has reportedly bought "a string of homes" for "people with special needs". Mar Mari Emmanuel is said to be registered as a director of OneJesus.
The SMH report informs that corporate records show that the OneJesus charity has also bought two other properties in Sydney suburb Wakeley, for a combined 3.4 million AUD.
OneJesus was founded in 2020 with the aim of "acquiring properties that are suitable for people with special needs and hiring our facilities for food [sic] hamper programs." The planned 2.2 million six-bedroom home is meant to be for disabled people in need according to the charity.
The report in the Sydney Morning Herald does not allege any misconduct by the charity or by Mar Mari Emmanuel himself concerning the house developments and acquisitions.
Aggravated indecent assault and suspension
Mar Mari Emmanuel, also known as Robert Shlimon, had been previously charged with aggravated indecent assault after a woman who had reached out to his church seeking guidance in 2013 said he touched her. The 18 year old woman reported that Mar Mari Emmanuel invited her to his home at night. She reported that she froze when he began to touch her stomach and breasts, and later reached inside her pants. According to the witness of the young woman he told her "I can be your father, your brother, anything you like". The charge was dismissed in 2014 as Magistrate Elaine Truscott said she was unable to find beyond reasonable doubt that Emmanuel was conscious of the lack of consent.
“The defendant has taken advantage of this vulnerable and confused young woman for his own pleasure,” Truscott said in her findings on June 10, 2014. But she ultimately dismissed the charge against him. Emmanuel, whose role as bishop required celibacy, had pleaded not guilty, denying the sexual touching ever took place.
That same year, he was suspended from his church, St Zaia Cathedral at Middleton Grange, which is part of the Ancient Church of The East, before he left and became leader of the breakaway church Christ The Good Shepherd. He has since become popular online for his sermons and made headlines when he was attacked in April 2024 with a knife during a live-streamed sermon.
