Goa Police may visit Sweden to record model’s statement

PANAJI - Facing accusations of sabotaging the investigations into the high profile politician-police-drug mafia nexus, the Goa Police Thursday said a police team would be sent to Sweden “if necessary” to question Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse, a key witness in the probe.

Speaking to reporters at Raj Bhavan, Director General of Police Bhimsain Bassi refused to accept that improper investigation had led to the release of dreaded Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala on conditional bail.

“There is no question of improper investigation. If necessary, we will send a police team to Sweden to record her (Lucky’s) statement,” Bassi said.

Videos uploaded by Lucky, a Sweden-based model on the internet showing her ex-boyfriend Atala boasting of his links to the police and politicians had resulted in the suspension and arrest of seven policemen for their links to the drugs mafia.

In course of their drug nexus probe, the police had failed to record the statement of Lucky - a key witness in the probe. The high court had also passed severe strictures against the shoddy police investigation.

When asked whether the police were going slow in the investigation into the drug nexus because of a senior cabinet minister’s son’s involvement, Bassi said: “We are investigating with an open mind. Whatever evidence we get will be investigated”.