READY TO FACE SECOND TRIAL IN RIBANDAR CHURCH CASE SAYS AIRES

PANJIM: Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today stated that he was ready to face the trial in the second charge sheet filed against him and prove his innocence in the 2004 Ribandar Church case.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that he was however concerned about the unnecessary inconvenience and unjustified harassment that the trial would cause to the 14 other Ribandar residents including a 80 year old widow who is now bedridden.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that everyone knows that the complaint filed is false and fabricated and expressed apprehension that the court trial would unnecessary drag on as the complainant Fr. Newton Rodrigues is now settled at Calgary in Canada.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the revision petition filed by Crime Branch Police Inspector Mrs. Sunita Sawant against him was not maintainable firstly because the law does not permit a second revision in the same case and that Inspector Sunita Sawant herself could not have filed a revision as it had to be filed by the State through its Public Prosecutor.

Adv. Rodrigues has further stated that besides this on merits too, Inspector Sunita Sawant’s petition would not survive as the contents of Fr. Newton Rodrigues’s complaint was also part of Adjuda Convent Superior Celia Fernandes’s complaint in which he was acquitted after a five year long trial.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that while acquitting him on 9th April last year in the first charge sheet the Panaji Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sharmila Patil had stated in her judgment that the allegations against him seem to have been manipulated and that he was falsely implicated in the case.

The Court had also held that the possibility of the complaint been lodged due to political interference could not be ruled out.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that he would place all these facts before the High Court once he receives a notice for the hearing on Police Inspector Sunita Sawant’s petition.

Meanwhile Adv. Aires Rodrigues has accused Special Public Prosecutor Mahesh Amonkar of lying and misleading the High Court in the 2004 Ribandar Church case.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that Mahesh Amonkar on 22nd Nov made a false statement before the High Court that he had paid the necessary process and postage fees in the High Court registry when infact he had not done so.

Adv. Rodrigues has also stated that Mahesh Amonkar on 15th Nov made another false statement before the High Court that the remaining accused in the 2004 Ribandar Church case have been charged an are being tried.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the case against the other accused has not started with even the charge not framed as one of the accused a 80 year old widow who is bedridden has been unable to yet come to court.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that every Public Prosecutor is duty bound to be fair, honest and transparent in discharging his duties.