COURT URGED TO SEEK GOA ARCHBISHOP’S HELP TO ENSURE FATHER NEWTON RODRIGUES’S PRESENCE IN COURT

PANJIM: Adv. Aires Rodrigues has sought that the Court seek the help of Archbishop of Goa to ensure the presence of Father Newton Rodrigues in court to depose in the 2004 Ribandar Church case. In an application to Panjim Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sarika Faldessai, Adv Rodrigues has asked that the Court issue an order to the Archbishop of Goa to take all possible steps to ensure that Father Newton Rodrigues remains present in Court.

Adv. Rodrigues has also sought that a non- bailable warrant against Father Newton Rodrigues be sent to the office of Indian consulate at Calgary so that it could be executed against the former parish Priest of Ribandar who is now the Pastor of St. Bernadette Church at Calgary in Canada. Adv Rodrigues has further asked the Court that the warrant be issued also in Father Newton Rodrigues’s new name “Antonio Joao Niwton Rodrigues”

The Court had earlier issued a warrant of arrest against Father Newton Rodrigues for not being present in court despite being summoned but the Crime Branch sought 12 weeks time to execute the warrant against Father Newton Rodrigues.

It was on Fr. Newton Rodrigues’s complaint in 2004 that Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 other Ribandar residents were charge sheeted for allegedly trespassing into the Ribandar church corridor and disturbing a Parish Pastoral committee meeting.

While Adv. Aires Rodrigues and others were charge sheeted for allegedly confronting Fr. Newton Rodrigues on the alleged molestation case, the case filed against Fr.Newton Rodrigues by the mother of the 13 year old girl who was allegedly molested was closed

after the then Governor of Goa Mr. S.C Jamir reportedly intervened to save Fr. Newton Rodrigues from being charge sheeted.