Court orders arrest warrant against Goa priestIndia Blooms News Service
Panaji, June 14 (IBNS): A local Court on Tuesday directed the Goa Crime Branch to issue fresh warrant of arrest returnable against a former Parish Priest into a criminal case he filed in 2004 against a lawyer and 14 locals. The Judicial Magistrate First Class, Panjim has also directed Crime Branch Police Inspector to be present in Court. The Crime Branch on Tuesday returned the warrant issued last week unexecuted stating that they require four months to execute the warrant against Fr Newton Rodrigues. The warrant against Fr Newton who is currently the Pastor of St. Bernadette Church at Calgary in Canada has been issued after his failure to remain present in Court as directed to depose in the criminal trial of Adv Aires Rodrigues and 14 other Ribandar residents in the 2004 Ribandar Church case. In 2004 Adv Aires was leading an agitation demanding action against Fr Newton for having allegedly molested a 13-year-old Ribandar girl. While Adv Aires and others were charge sheeted for confronting Fr Newton, the case filed against Fr Newton by the mother of the 13-year-old girl who was allegedly molested by the Father was closed. During the cross examination on Tuesday, a government employee conceded that the Father molested the minor. (Reporting by John Edwards) -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes.
