German mother does U-turn

German mother does U-turn
Files Application With Police To Withdraw Rape Case Against Rohit
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji: The German woman who had alleged that her minor daughter had been raped by education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit and sexually abused by PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren handed over a letter to the Calangute police on Sunday afternoon stating she wanted to withdraw her complaint.
The woman’s counsel Aires Rodrigues confirmed that she had given such a letter to the police. “She is really upset as the system is treating her and her daughter as the accused. They do not want another unnatural death as in the case of British teenager Scarlett Keeling. That is the reason why she wants to withdraw the complaint,” said Rodrigues.
It, however, may not be easy to withdraw the complaint. Criminal lawyer Surendra Dessai said, “A complaint in terms of a cognizable offence can neither be withdrawn nor compounded. It depends on the court to decide whether the accused should be bailed out or sent to police or judicial custody.”
German consul general Walter Stechel, who is currently in Goa, has expressed surprise over the development. “I am not aware of this. What is important for us is that a German kid has been affected and we have to help all German citizens in India. We had been informed about the FIR and the circumstances of the case,” said Stechel.
Stechel met governor S S Sidhu on Sunday but refused to divulge any details about their discussions. He may also meet police representatives to discuss the case.
Making it clear that the German consulate would not interfere with the police investigations, Stechel said, “We are closely following the case and are concerned about two things. First, that security is assured to the mother and the minor. And second that the police and judiciary take necessary action. We are confident that necessary steps have been taken.”
Although police officials refused to come on record, sources confirmed that the woman has also written that since the case was registered, she was being harassed. It is learnt that she has said that Goa is not a nice place to live in anymore.
Sources said the mother has refused to cooperate with the investigations and refused to hand over the computer hard disk in which Rohit’s messages are allegedly saved.
“Despite police security given to them, they are not staying in their house in Saligao and not helping in the investigations,” added sources.
Meanwhile, reacting to Sunday’s developments the education minister said, “This is a ploy to ensure that my son doesn’t get bail.”
Rohit’s bail plea will be heard by the children’s court on Monday.

November 10,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition