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Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Bail denied to priest accused of molesting minor girl

Police have charged him of sexually molesting a 14-year-old girl.

The Kerala High Court declined to grant bail to Father Edwin Figarez of Kottappuram diocese, arrested for molesting a Catholic minor girl last year.

Justice Sunil Thomas on Monday considered the bail plea of 41-year-old, who was parish priest of Puthenvelikkara. He was absconding since April last year after Ernakulam rural police registered a case against him but was arrested in December.

Police have charged him of sexually molesting a 14-year-old girl of the parish several times between January and March last year, with the latest incident being on March 28th.

The priest who was active in the field of Christian devotional songs allegedly lured the girl by exploiting her interest in music, The Times of India reported.

Police had booked the priest for rape under provisions of Indian Penal Code (section 376) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. He was arrested after his petitions for obtaining anticipatory bail was turned down by the high court and then the Supreme Court.

While declining to grant anticipatory bail, the court said custodial interrogation is required to find out whether similar crimes were committed against any others by the same accused.

Source: Times of India

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