Catholic Priest is sentenced to double life in prison for forced carnal body knowledge of a young minor girl
Criminals are to be found in all walks of life. A case has now emerged from among the Christian Catholic community where a Catholic priest repeatedly raped a young girl. The rapes took place in the Indian state of Kerala. The girl complained to her mother, who immediately went to the police.
An investigation was done and the priest was arrested for rape. He was charged under the Protection of Children from sexual offenses act ( POCSO). It appears that after a sermon the priest would lure the girl to his chamber for the gratification of his lust.
The priest Fr Edwin Figarez
The priest was tried under POCSO and the judge has awarded him 2 life imprisonment terms. A double life sentence is normally not the norm, but in this case, the act of the Priest in the opinion of the judge merited a severe sentence. The priest was also directed to pay a fine of Rs250,000. Along with Fr Edwin, his brother was also arrested and tried as an accessory.
Action
The priest has now been suspended by the local diocese. Catholic priests are at the center of many crimes and the Vatican is grappling with the issue. Fr Edwin was tried by a fast track court and punished in record time.