Panaji: The Goa Children`s Court has
acquitted Rohit, son of state Education Minister Atanasio
Monserratte, of the charges of raping a German minor girl.
Rohit was arrested in November 2008 for allegedly raping
the 14-year-old girl and also sending her lewd messages.
The court acquitted Rohit yesterday as the girl and her
mother refused to cooperate with the prosecution.
Both have returned to Germany and were not available to
testify before the court. The victim`s mother even refused to
make available the birth certificate of the girl, which was a
proof of her being a minor.
Rohit was accused of raping the victim in his car at
Bambolim, a town near Panaji and thereafter sending her lewd
messages.
The victim`s mother lodged a complaint with Calangute
police on October 2, 2008, but the accused remained absconding
till he surrendered on November 4, 2008.
The court had given time for the prosecution to seek help
of the German consulate for recording the statement of the
victim and her mother. But both of them did not cooperate with
the authorities.
PTI
