Rape-accused Catholic priest surrenders before court

India Today
February 16, 2018

https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/rape-accused-catholic-priest-surrenders-before-court-1171296-2018-02-16

A Catholic priest, accused of raping a Bangladeshi woman, today surrendered before a court in Vaikom in the district.

Thomas Thanninilkkumthadathil (36) had gone into hiding after the woman filed a police complaint on Wednesday. As police intensified the search, the priest surfaced in the magistrate court in Vaikom with his lawyer and surrendered. The court remanded him in 14-day judicial custody. In her complaint, the 42-year-old UK-based Bangladeshi woman alleged that the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church priest raped her after befriending her on Facebook, police said. Thomas allegedly committed the offence after promising that he would marry her. The incident occurred last month when Thomas was serving as vicar of the church at Perumthururth near Kaduthuruthy. Pala diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church dismissed Thomas from pastoral service and "all stages of priesthood" following the incident. An explanation was sought from him after summoning him to the diocese on February 13 when the church authorities came to know about his "misconduct".

The diocese has said it would fully cooperate with the legal action initiated against the priest. PTI COR TGB RC GVS