German minor rape trial begins in Goa

PANAJI - Trial proceedings into the alleged rape of a minor German girl by the state education minister’s son began at the Goa Children’s Court (GCC) Monday.

The GCC Monday recorded the statement of the 14-year-old girl’s German mother, who had accused 21-year-old Rohit, son of Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate of raping her daughter.

Mediapersons were asked to vacate the court room during the trial proceeding in which Rohit was represented by senior counsel Ram Jethmalani.

Both counsels did not speak to the media after the hearing. The German minor’s rape case in October 2009 was in the news after the police first refused to register the rape case despite repeated requests from the mother.

German consular officials had to intervene and lobby with the state government to force the police to probe the rape case. The police were also censured by the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court for their being overtly supportive of Rohit during their probe.