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	Canadian Search Warrant for Maltese Priest Remains Open Malta Independent July 31, 2011 http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=129673 Fr Godwin Scerri, who is wanted in Canada on charges of sexual abuse and who is entangled in another high profile case of alleged sexual abuse at St Joseph's Home in Malta, is one of 22 priests who have faced prison, probation or lawsuits in the London Diocese of Ontario, Canada. In April 2010, the Ontario Provincial Police resurrected the case against Fr Scerri, who was charged in June 1993 for sexually abusing minors between 1983 and 1987 when he served at St William's Church in Emeryville. He had fled to his native Malta and search and arrest warrants remain open in his respect in Canada. And while the Ontario police are hoping to be able to extradite Fr Scerri, ongoing proceedings in Malta in relation to the St Joseph's Home case are hindering such efforts. The complaint against Fr Scerri alleged that the abuse, which began when the boy was 12 years old, occurred between 1983 and 1987 on Pelee Island and Emeryville, when Fr Scerri worked as a priest at St William's Church. But he never faced charges since he had returned to Malta in the interim period and was then transferred to the St Joseph orphanage in Sta Venera, where he has been accused of having committed similar offences. As Fr Scerri had since moved back to Malta, he has apparently avoided prosecution in Canada. The Ontario police, however, now appear ready to take matters further and file an extradition request for Fr Scerri. Such a request, however, would impinge on his current court proceedings in Malta where he has been facing charges, along with two other members of the clergy, in what has been described a protracted seven-year court case involving the alleged abuse of 10 former orphans. A spokesperson from the Ontario police had told this newspaper recently that it would like to see him extradited from Malta to Canada to face charges there, and that a Canada-wide arrest warrant for Fr Scerri was still valid. Fr Scerri was charged in June 1993 with sexual assault and gross indecency following complaints filed by a man who was 22 years old at the time of charging. An Ontario Provincial Police said, "Allegations from the case recently came to light so it has been resurrected as a cold case. We are looking for any information we can get. The charges against Fr Scerri are still pending, and an arrest warrant still exists for him. "While there is the possibility of Fr Scerri being extradited from Malta to Canada in the future, the Ontario police are continuing its investigations into the case." Should Fr Scerri have his day in the Canadian courts, he faces a potentially long sentence. In fact, Fr Scerri is one of a total of 22 priests from the London diocese who have been convicted, charged or sued for sexual abuse. Of the 14 cases that have been concluded against priests from the diocese, 13 of the priests had pleaded guilty and received sentences for various sexual crimes ranging from three years probation to five years in prison. The Canadian police, however, will have to wait for the conclusion of proceedings against Fr Scerri in Malta before proceeding with a possible extradition request.
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