Priest arrested in sexual abuse case

KOCHI: Police have arrested Father Edwin Figarez, a priest attached to the Lourdes Matha Church, Puthenvelikkara in Ernakulam district in connection with a case in which he allegedly raped a 14-yr-old girl at the church complex. The priest had gone into hiding after the incident.

Figarez’ brother and Chalakkudi native Sylvetser Figarez (58) and nephew and marine engineer Garvin Figarez (22) from Vellikkulangara were earlier arrested by the police in connection with the incident.

The case was filed by Puthenvelikkara police last April based on the complaint lodged by the girl’s mother. After this, with the help of certain local bar owners and members of Church Committee, the priest went into hiding. Later he slipped away to Dubai. On April 27 he appeared before Vadakkekkara Circle Inspector and recorded statement. But later when the high court rejected his bail petition, he again went into hiding.  

Meanwhile the tainted priest maintained that the sex case was a trap laid by Fr Francis Thaniyath and Fr Nixon Kattasseri with the connivance of Kottappuram Archdiocese bishop Joseph Karikkassery.

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