Pope Francis expels rape convict Kerala priest Robin Vadakkumchery

Neither there is no ‘hue and cry’ in ‘secular’ media nor we can see any debates on the conviction of ‘Christian priest’ for raping minor ! Imagine what could have been the scene if accused is Hindu ? – Editor, Hindujagruti

Kochi : Adhering to the policy of “zero tolerance” for clergy who sexually exploit minors, Pope Francis has expelled a Kerala priest convicted of rape from all priestly duties and rights.

Syro-Malabar Church priest Robin Vadakkumchery is currently serving a jail term for impregnating a 16-year-old girl in at Kottiyoor in Kerala’s Kannur district.

“Vadakkumchery has been dispensed from the exercise of priestly duties and rights. That means he has been reduced to the state of a layman”, a Mananthavady diocese official said on Sunday.

He was suspended from priestly duties soon after the news about his crime was reported in early 2017.

A POCSO court in Thalassery last year had sentenced Vadakkumchery to a total of 60 years rigorous imprisonment (20 years each on three counts as per the POCSO Act) and slapped a fine of Rs 3 lakh on him. However, he would serve only for 20 years in prison as the terms would run concurrently.

The survivor’s parents also faced criminal proceedings for covering up the case.

The case

The rape case from Kottiyoor came to light after the victim delivered a baby boy on February 7, 2017, at Christuraja hospital in Koothuparamba in Kannur. The child was taken to an adoption centre in Vythiri, Wayanad.

After the Childline India officials intimated the police, a case was registered on February 27, 2017, by the Peravoor police.

When the police questioned, the 16-year-old girl’s father admitted to raping his daughter.

The girl’s statement also backed this claim. However, it was on the basis of secret information received at the NGO Childline that Fr Robin Vadakkumchery was arrested.

Robin, who was the vicar of the local church at Kottiyoor in Kannur district, was arrested on February 28, 2017.

The Kerala High Court had on March 14, 2017, directed Fr Thomas Joseph Therakam, Betty and Sr Ophelia and one Thangamma, a midwife who had moved for bail, also accused in the case, to surrender before the investigating officers within five days.

Fr Therakam, Betty Jose and Sr Ophelia, charged with covering up the rape of a minor girl, surrendered before the investigating officer on March 17, 2017.

Though 10 people were initially arrested in the case, two doctors and an administrator of the hospital were later removed from the list of accused after they approached the Supreme Court.

The trial in the case commenced in the POCSO court, Thalassery, on August 1, 2017.

The six other accused – Sr Lis Maria of Christudas convent, Sr Anita of Kallumutty convent, Fr Thomas Joseph Therakam, former chairman of Wayanad Child Welfare Committee (CWC), CWC member Dr Sr Betty Jose, and Sr Ophelia, the superintendent of the Holy Infant Mary Mandiram, Vythiri – have been acquitted.

The officials of the orphanage had alleged that the CWC did not take any action even though they had informed it about the case of a newborn brought there on February 8, a day after the infant was brought there.

Witnesses turn hostile

The victim as well as her family had turned hostile in the case. However, the prosecution relied on the the statement of the government doctor.

As it was established that the girl was a minor, any sexual relation, even if it had the minor’s consent, could only be considered a rape, it contended.

The statement of the doctor turned out to be crucial as the victim as well as the CWC turned hostile and gave statements in favour of Fr Robin.

The POCSO special court commended the foolproof investigation carried out by the investigation officer and then Peravoor CI Sunil Kumar.

Source : Manorama Online