3 MORE CO-ACCUSED IN KOTTIYOOR RAPE CASE ARRESTED

BLive
March 22, 2017

http://b-live.in/2017/03/22/3-more-co-accused-in-kottiyoor-rape-case-arrested/

Kannur: Three more co-accused, including two doctors, in the Kottiyoor rape case in which priest Robin Vadakkancheril is accused of sexually exploiting and impregnating a minor girl, were arrested by the police in Kannur today. The co-accused gynaecologist Sister Tessy Jose, paediatrician Dr Hydrali and hospital administrator Sister Ancy Mathew surrendered before the Kannur Circle office around 630 this morning.

With the arrest of these three co-accused, the number of people nabbed by the police has gone up to eight. Those already arrested include the prime accused priest Robin. Two more nuns are still absconding and search is on to nab them, police said.

The sex abuse victim, a plus one student at a school in Kottiyoor, had given birth to a child on February 7 at a private hospital.

The co-accused helped priest Robin in hiding the newborn in the orphanage at Vythiri and the doctors and hospital authorities failed to report the incident to the police, government or Child Welfare Committee (CWC) then.

Meanwhile, the two other co-accused including Sister Lizy Maria, who is also the daughter of second accused Thankamma Nelliyani (58) of Neendunoki near Kottiyoor, and another nun Sister Anitta of Kallumutti Chrishtudasi Convent, Iritty, are still absconding.

Earlier, the same court had granted bail to four co-accused, Ex- Chairman of the Child Welfare Committee, Wayanad district Fr Thomas Therakam, CWC committee member Sister Betty Jose and Superintendent of an orphanage in Waynad Sister Ophelia, and Thankamma Nelliyani, when they surrendered before the investigating team on last week.

On February 27, Fr Vadakkancheril alias Mathew Vadakkancheril (48), who was the parish vicar at St Sebastian Church, Neendunoki, near Kottiyoor in the district, under the Manathavady diocese, was held from Chalakkudy, while he was preparing to flee to Canada, after a case was registered against him. Police also seized the passport, Canada visa, mobile phone and laptop of the priest and sent him to judicial custody at sub jail, in Kannur, till March 27.