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Hello Aires Rodrigues,
Since the inception of this topic I am taking keen interest in this issue. Only the final judgement will prove who is guilty and who is not. You are doing a good job to get justice for the minor girl. Carry on with your fight till justice is done and prove to everyone that you are right and those who are accusing you falsely are wrong. Your fight to meet the end of justice should deter others who are doing mischief in the name of religion and by wearing the robes of Christ. Many of those who are accusing you of carrying on with this fight if they had to face the same problem I am sure they would have supported you. For justice there is no barrier of any sort, leave aside of religion. Justice is the greatest religion and it should be protected. Carry on till the end and dont withdraw in between. By fighting for justice you are only protecting the image and integrity of Christianity which otherwsie in the recent past has soiled by many of the Romeo type of priests
A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait.
Goa Crime Branch Police Inspector Mrs. Ezilda D' Souza, investigating officer of the Ribandar Church molestation case has reportedly been sternly censured by top police bosses for intentionally delaying to file the chargesheet against Ribandar Parish priest Fr. Newton Rodrigues even though the investigation of the case was complete.
She has been directed to file the targeted immediately and her request to relieve her from the case has been turned down and has been told that on taking oath as police officer she was bound to discharge her duties with responsibility, fairly and fearlessly.
It may be recalled that Mrs. Ezilda D' Souza had at the fag end of the
investigation reportedly sought a transfer from her current posting claiming
that as a Roman Catholic and being also from Ribandar she did not have the
moral courage to charge sheet the Parish Priest.
The Old Goa Police station had on 18th August 2004 registered an F.I.R against Ribandar Parish Priest Fr. Newton Rodrigues based on a complaint from a 13 year old Ribandar girl that on the pretext of taking confession the Parish Priest Fr. Newton Rodrigues took her to a room in the church and molested her.
The F.I.R against Ribandar Parish Priest Fr. Newton Rodrigues for offences under section 354 IPC (molestation) and section 8(2) of the Goa Children's Act, 2003 though registered at the Old Goa Police station the case was transferred to the Crime Branch at Dona Paula for further investigation.
Crime Branch Police Inspector Ezilda D' Souza had in a statement before the
Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court on 16th September submitted that the
investigation of the alleged molestation case was at the last stage and that
the charge sheet against Fr. Newton Rodrigues was being filed shortly.
A contempt of Court petition now filed against Police Inspector Mrs. Ezilda
D' Souza for not having complied with this undertaking is pending before the
High Court.
Meanwhile, fearing the embarrassment his impending chargesheeting may cause to the Catholic church especially in view of the forthcoming Exposition the accused priest Fr. Newton Rodrigues has reportedly been making hectic attempts by seeking help of top political leaders from various parties to try and hush up the matter.
The accused Priest has also managed to get the victim and her mother to attempt to withdraw their complaint after two months of registering it but this has not been accepted by the top police officers who have decided that the matter should now be dealt by the courts in view of the fact that the victim is a minor and the investigation of the molestation case complete with statements of over 14 witnesses recorded.
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