KOCHI: A 38-year-old Christian priest was arrested on charges of sexually harassing an inmate of a child home at Valayanchirangara near Perumbavoor.
The arrested has been identified as John Philipose, a native of Naranganam in Pathanamthitta. He has been serving as manager of the child home run by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church at Valayanchirangara. According to Perumbavoor sub-inspector Honey K Das, the priest was taken into custody based on the statement given by the victim to Childline officials. According to the police, the incident came to light when the victim revealed the matter to the headmaster of the school where he is studying. Subsequently, the school authorities informed Childline officials. Later, a case was registered under various Sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The accused was produced before the court, and was remanded.
Man Gets 4-year Jail
The Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court on Thursday sentenced a Fort Kochi-native accused in a fake indian currency note (FICN) case to four years’ imprisonment. Mohanan of Fort Kochi was awarded jail sentence by Additional Sessions Court Judge E M Muhammad Ibrahim. Meanwhile, the court acquitted six persons citing lack of evidence to prove their involvement in the case. One of the accused is still absconding.
Mohanan was arrested in February 2003 with 15 currency notes of ‘100’ denomination. Later, he went into hiding after being released on bail. The Crime Branch, which conducted the probe, had filed chargesheet against seven persons.