Monday, October 13, 2008

German girl’s mum did not show up: SP

German girl’s mum did not show up: SP
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji: Ten days after a German woman complained to the police against a minister’s son for “sexually using” her minor daughter, she has now alleged that “she felt that the police wanted her to withdraw the complaint.”
“The police have said that it’s up to me to decide what I want to do with the complaint. Though they didn’t tell me directly to withdraw the complaint, from their attitude I felt that they wanted me to do so,” the mother said. She has been staying in Goa for the last 14 years with her daughter, while her husband is in Germany.
SP (North) Bosco George denied any delay and said that investigations are in process. “For us to act, prima facie a congnizable offence has to be made out. Till now the complainant has not furnished the mobile where the messages have been stored, nor provided a printout of the messages.”
He added, “The mother assured us in writing that she would come to meet us for inquiry at 11.30 am on Sunday. We waited for her to come and furnish details as she had told us that she would come after taking legal advise. Now we have sent her another intimation and are waiting for her reply.”
The German woman, who calls herself a researcher on Hindu mythology and a translator, had lodged a missing complaint with the Calangute police on October 2, stating, “I know my daughter is being sexually used by a man much elder than her. This person is contacting her on her mobile phone and maybe via the internet.” The 14-year-old girl had dropped out of a Panaji school last year and is now studying in an open school.
Explaining what attracted her minor daughter to the minister’s son, the German woman said, “She was attracted to the German car he possesses. Moreover, they had both studied in the same school. I did everything possible to protect my daughter. When it became difficult and I realized that what was happening was against the law, I lodged a police complaint.”
“We can’t allow young kids to be used by elders (the minister’s son is 21) whom they trust, love and call friends. My daughter is upset,” the mother said. Admitting that she knew it was going to be difficult fighting against a minister’s son, she said, “I had to lodge a complaint to protect my daughter.”
The mother said that she had first read the SMSs when her minor daughter was admitted to a hospital last month. “I went through the inbox and was shocked to see the messages she was receiving from the minister’s son. I looked at my daughter and wondered what would become of our little girl, who has had such a horrid experience at such a young age. Her mental state is finished and she has attempted to commit suicide more than once. It has become intolerable now,” the mother said.
She admitted that she had gifted her daughter a mobile and the SIM card was in her name. “I had gifted her the mobile so that I could be in touch with her. I permitted her to use the mobile to call her friends.”
The German woman’s counsel Aires Rodrigues said, “The minister shouldn’t interfere with the investigation and we will make sure that he doesn’t influence or tamper with evidence in this case.”
October 13, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition