Priest Held on Charge of Assault

The Hindu
April 2, 2015

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/priest-held-on-charge-of-assault/article7060402.ece

The Puthenvelikkara police on Wednesday booked a priest for alleged sexual assault of a minor girl several times in the past few months. According to the police, the mother of a Class 9 student lodged a complaint against Fr. Edwin Figares, a priest with the Lourdes Matha Church, Puthenvelikkara.

“The mother, in her complaint, stated that the accused sexually assaulted her 15-year-old daughter several times over the past couple of months. A case has been registered and the probe has begun,” said sub inspector M.S. Shibu. According to the complaint, the girl revealed her ordeal to her mother on March 28. However, a spokesperson of the Verapoly diocese termed the charges “baseless and an act of revenge, done with an intent to tarnish the image of the priest who is well known for his service”. — Staff Reporter