PANJIM: The criminal trial of Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 other Ribandar residents in the 2004 Ribandar Church case will continue on May 31st at 10 am before the Panaji Judicial Magistrate First Class Ms Sarika Phaldesai. The court will examine prosecution witness Mrs. Connie Rosario, a teacher at Red Rosary School at Miramar who was a member of the church committee headed by then Ribandar Parish Priest Fr. Newton Rodrigues.
The Goa government has been vigorously pursuing the case against Adv. Aires Rodrigues. It may be recalled that Panaji Chief Judicial Magistrate Mr. P.M.Shinde had on 22nd December 2009 directed that proceedings against Adv. Rodrigues in this case be stopped. The government however after unsuccessfully challenging that order before the Sessions Court later moved the High Court for which even a Special Public Prosecutor was appointed. Then Bombay High Court Justice N.A Britto while ruling that the trial proceed conceded to Adv. Rodrigues’s request that the proceedings be expedited.
With the trial now on, the State finds itself in a dilemma with none of the prosecution witnesses so far having deposed against Adv. Aires Rodrigues. Infact with some of the witnesses going hostile the Assistant Public Prosecutor has had to cross examine her own witnesses. Fr. Newton Rodrigues on whose complaint Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 others were charge sheeted has been directed to remain present in Court on June 9th.
This is the second charge sheet filed by the police against Adv. Aires Rodrigues in connection with the Ribandar Church incident. While the current trial is on the complaint filed by Fr. Newton Rodrigues the earlier charge sheet was on the complaint by the Superior of Ajuda Convent at Ribandar Sister Celia Fernandes
Acquitting Adv. Aires Rodrigues on 9th April 2009 in that case the then Panaji Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sharmila Patil had in her judgment stated that the allegations against Adv. Rodrigues seem to have been manipulated and that he was falsely implicated in the case. Judge Patil had also held that the possibility of the complaint against Adv. Rodrigues having been lodged due to political interference could not be ruled out.
In 2004 Adv. Aires Rodrigues was leading an agitation demanding action against Fr. Newton Rodrigues for having allegedly molested a 13 year old Ribandar girl.
While Adv. Rodrigues and others were charge sheeted for confronting Fr. Newton Rodrigues, the case filed against Fr.Newton Rodrigues by the mother of the 13 year old girl who was allegedly molested by Fr. Newton has been closed.
A First Information Report (F.I.R) was registered at the Old Goa Police Station on 18th August 2004 against Fr. Newton Rodrigues for having allegedly molested the minor girl. The F.I.R was registered against Fr. Newton Rodrigues under Sec 354 of Indian Penal Code and Section 8(2) of the Goa Children’s Act. The mother in her complaint to the police had stated that Fr. Newton Rodrigues had taken the minor girl to his bedroom on the pretext of confession and had molested her.
The then Senior Superintendent of Police (Crime) on 30th August 2004 had opined that the Fr. Newton Rodrigues be charge sheeted. The Director of Prosecution had also opined that it was a fit case for charge sheeting Fr Newton Rodrigues.
However then Governor of Goa Mr. S.C Jamir reportedly intervened to save Fr. Newton Rodrigues from being charge sheeted. On 14th July 2005 the case file against Fr. Newton Rodrigues was sent to Governor S.C. Jamir and on 31st August 2005 the police submitted a report to the Children’s Court that the case against Fr. Newton Rodrigues be closed. Fr. Newton Rodrigues was later relieved from the Archdiocese of Goa and moved to Canada.
5 comments:
Aires Rodrigues is not a saint. But I do not understand why all the time against a priest he is fighting? He should fight against the crooks of Goa and not the church. I have seen another idiot Calvert Gonsalves who is now in the pockets of Chorchill. He is his pet now. I think Aires should stop attacking Fr. Newton all the time. The priest may be wrong who has seen? These days anything can happen. I think the Catholics should condemn an attack without any evidence against a priest. I am a Hindu but well versed with catholics as my friends are most of them catholics. My age has advanced but as a kid I used to go for ladain's and Saibinn at every catholic house of our waddo.
I request Aires to stop attacking the priest all the time and come up with articles and attacks on the crooked and corrupt politicians of Goa.
Is Aires attacking the priest? I see a different picture here.
Aires' attack along with parishioners was way back in 2004. Following which police filed criminal cases both sides.
One side got delete. The otherside though deleted by Judiciary initially, was revived with total disregard to Judicial procedures.
This is what is going on. And the people behind this are those politicians whom he is legally after.
Has Aires not been after corrupt Politicians? How many cases are there against corruption, criminal intimidation, etc. in the Courts where Aires is the complainant? Politicians and their sycophant lawyers lack legal knowledge. Their mentality is exactly that of illiterates. They presume by prolonging dismissed cases, they will be harassing Aires. I bet he's enjoying making fools of all of them in the Courts, including the Attorney General Subodh.
Well done Aires! It's a CHESS game!! (;-)
This is like the story of Edino. Because Edino had many criminal charges against him, his higher ups sent him to UK. What about Fr. Newton Rodrigues, the tester of a 13 year old girl's pendant? Is he a goldsmith? As this case too was getting high attention, the High Commands of the Church sent him to Canada. Hope he does not try to check other innocent girls' pendants there. Old habits die hard.
HI Friends,Let Adv. Aires continue and finish the case with Fr.Neuton. for Fr.Neuton started the game, now Adv. Aires will finish it.
We have to pray and thank Adv. Aires for his courage and confidence.
There is no one in Goa like him, We have to be proud of him, he is a brave person. Risking his life , he is fighting with the STUPID, CORRUPT. politician.
More stupid is the people of Ribandar, who did not support him.
NO ONE IS PERFECT, Pardon his previous mistakes.
I beg all the people of Ribandar, and all our friends all over goa to be united and support Adv. Aires , if
you want a better Goa.
This is better oppourtinity for all the Goans.
I am a catholic and have kept my hands to myself according to my religious belief, taught by these priests. Here is a case Fr Newton had to answer but instead got sent to Canada, he is now seeking financial damages, what does the priest need that much money for?
It financial greed that the Church has been selling land to Non-Goans without making any offer to the poor Goaan tenants residing in the property.
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