Fear led German mother to give up case: Lawyer

The legal counsel of the German mother, who accused Goa Education minister Atanasio Monserratte's son Rohit of raping her minor daughter, has alleged that both the mother and the girl were verbally abused by one of the doctors during the medical examination, which confirmed rape.

"When the mother and girl appeared at Goa Medical college and hospital for medical examination, Dr Silvano Sapeco, one of the doctors, verbally abused them," Aires Rodrigues, the German mother's lawyer, said.

"The mother and girl was made to sit in dark corridors of Goa medical college for almost 40 minutes before the doctor arrived. And when the mother questioned the delay, she was asked to 'shut up'," he said.

After initial reluctance, the girl had agreed for the medical tests on November 2, confirming sexual intercourse.

Besides, while escorting the girl for medical examination, the police went in uniform to her house, which is clear violation of Goa Children's Act, the lawyer added.

Rodrigues, who himself faced a physical assault during the investigations on October 13, said that the mother was frustrated with the police probe and hence decided to withdraw her complaint.

The mother was wary of continuing with her fight for justice as police had already initiated an inquiry through the foreigners' registration office on her, he said.

Calangute police, in their letter to the mother on October 23, had asked to give all details about her movements in India, property owned and source of income, he added.

The mother is on long term visa in India and has been residing in Goa for last 13 years.

"Suddenly, the inquiry was initiated against the mother. She was made to look like accused. Even the victim was treated like accused by police," Rodrigues alleged.

The lawyer said that local villagers also began a signature campaign against the mother, in a bid to throw her out from the village.

"There was immense pressure on her. She was being threatened.  She could not face it and finally gave it up," he said.

On November 9, the German mother wrote to Calangute police seeking to withdraw her complaint.

The German mother had accused Rohit of raping her minor daughter and had lodged a formal complaint against him on October 2. However, Rohit is out on bail now.

Rodrigues said that the withdrawal was not out of court settlement or any compromise but was due to fear that her daughter would become another Scarlette Eden Keeling.

Scarlette, a British teenager, was found dead on Goa's Anjuna beach in February this year.