PANJIM: Old Goa Police Sub Inspector H.L.Hanshakutti who had initially investigated the 2004 Ribandar Church case against Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 other Ribandar residents today told Panjim Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sarika Faldessai. that the statements of the five witnesses including Mrs. Cynthia Fernandes recorded on 17th August 2004 at 10.30 am were recorded and typed on Father Newton Rodrigues’s computer at the Ribandar Church.
Mrs Cynthia Fernandes had last week deposed in Court that her statement was hand written and recorded the Old Goa Police Station at 7.30 pm on 17th Augsut 2004.
PSI Hanshakutti also told the court that the statement of Mrs. Mica Fernandes the then Vice moderator of the Ribandar Parish Pastoral Council was recorded on 16th August at around 11 pm and not 7.30 pm as falsely deposed by her in Court.
On being cross examined by Adv. Aires Rodrigues for over two hours today PSI Hanshakutti stated that the case against Adv. Rodrigues and others was registered at 10.45 pm on 16th August 2004 on the directions of the then Assistant Superintendent of Police.
The cross examination will continue on June 23rd after which Inspector Braz Menezes who later investigated the case at the Crime Branch will depose in Court as the last prosecution witness. Adv. Aires Rodrigues will then examine his witnesses which include Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao.
The Court has already issued a warrant of arrest against Father Newton Rodrigues for not being present in court despite being summoned. Crime Branch Inspector who has been asked to execute the warrant has been directed by th Court to remain present on June 23rd. It was on Fr. Newton Rodrigues’s complaint that Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 other Ribandar residents were charge sheeted for trespassing into the church corridor and disturbing a church committee meeting.
In 2004 Adv. Aires Rodrigues was leading an agitation demanding action against Fr. Newton Rodrigues for having allegedly molested a 13 year old girl from Ribandar. While Adv. Aires 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 was closed.
Though then Senior Superintendent of Police (Crime) and the Director of Prosecution had opined that it was a fit case for charge sheeting Fr Newton Rodrigues, 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 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.
1 comments:
afedupgoan
WAS IT UNFRLY NEWTONS AND OTHER PRIESTS LAST ACT?
The razing fire on the molestation of the
minor girl by unfatherly niwton,is not cooling down.Let
me also put my finger in the little crevice as there is absolutely no
space to put my hand.
The frequently used excuse used by the priests
and their supporters which are dwindling day by day is they are also
human beings.
I feel they are animal beings read the reasons yourself.
1)
In an incident a priest deputed at Agonda Canacona was video filmed
doing all things which no body is supposed to do except the NRI husband
of the lady in the act, the recordings were submitted to the Canacona
Police station and copy submitted to the arch bishop, the bishops
office wrote to the Police that they will take action and drop the
case. The only action was the priest was transfered.
2) In another
incident at Sadoshem a parishioner by mistake put one hundred rupee
note in the collection tray. and was delighted to listen in the next
weeks announcement the collection for the past Sunday as Rs.85.50. The
said priest after transfer withdrew four lakhs plus from Goa Urban Bank
Canacona branch.
3) In another incident at Shelim in Canacona a
priest of our lady of Fatima chapel was constantly calling on the land
line of the girl who was the youth president regarding lotteries the
girl was informing him she doesn't want to come.Even then he didn't
stop at this the father(daddy) of the girl went to the parochial house
to question the priest when questioned the priest said i don't want to
talk to him at that the daddy got angry and slapped the priest in the
presence of other ladies present at the parochial house.
4) In
another incident a priest of the Bhatpal church in Canacona was going
to a ladies house after 9.00 P.M. whose husband was working abroad to
teach her organ.
5) In another incident another Priest of Bhatpal
church in Canacona had a regular lady divorcee visiter on every friday
and used to stay in the parochial house till sunday, when the
parishners went witha complain to the bishops office they were politely
told to get a proof. The same priest is seen entering and coming out
from a ladies beauty parlour with not so good character at later part
of the day.
6) In another incident a senoir priest of St theresa
church in Canacona was a gambling adict and used to go to Margao almost
daily to play cards. Later he had differences with the junoir and the
parishners had to intervene and to calm down the situation.
7)
Another priest of the same church was called the son in law of Rajbagh
as people thought he had affair with the church clerk.the clerk was
witnessed adjusting her skirt when she was coming out of the priests
bedroom at 3.30 P.M. the witness got so angry he slapped the clerk then
and there.
My dear friend Orlando i would be very delighted to talk
to you on above topic and will be more then happy if you can change our
perception about the ugly face of the priests in Goa.
afedupgoan
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