German girl’s rape: Goa seeks consulate’s help

PANAJI - The Goa government is trying to seek assistance of German authorities to record the statement of a minor girl from that country who was allegedly raped in the state in 2008 by a minister’s son, a local court was told Wednesday.

Efforts were also being made to make the 14-year-old victim, who is now in Germany, depose via video conference, the prosecution told the court.

The Goa Children’s Court (GCC) in Panaji is conducting the trial of Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit, who has been chargesheeted for raping the German girl at Calangute in October 2008.

“The state government is making efforts to get the statement of the victim and her mother through the German consulate. She can testify through video conferencing,” public prosecutor Poonam Bharne told the GCC.

After initially pursuing the case, the victim’s mother said that the state administration was conspiring to help the accused.

After returning to Germany, the victim’s mother also said that her daughter had moved on and was not keen on deposing before the Goa court.

Bharne has also asked for three weeks’ time to secure the victim’s statement. The trial has been adjourned till Oct 8.