Kerala Catholic priest arrested for allegedly raping a British-Bangladeshi woman

bdnews24.com
February 17, 2018

https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2018/02/17/kerala-catholic-priest-arrested-for-allegedly-raping-a-british-bangladeshi-woman

A Catholic priest in Kerala, who is accused of sexually assaulting a Bangladeshi woman based in the UK, has surrendered to the police.

He has also been booked for extorting money from the woman in a complaint file by her, according to media reports.

The priest was produced in a court in Vaikkom and remanded to a 14-day judicial custody, police told local media.

Father Thomas Thanninilkkumthadathil, in his 40s, is accused of raping the 42-year-old woman after befriending her through Facebook, the Bangalore Mirror and Indian Express reported.

The victim, a dual citizen of Bangladesh and Britain, had come to Kottayam from the UK and stayed as the priest's guest at the parsonage for about a week in January this year.

She alleged Thomas repeatedly raped her during her week-long stay in Kottayam. She then flew back to the UK on Jan 17 before returning on Feb 8.

During her second visit, she alleged Thomas had stolen her gold ornaments, mobile phone and 1,300 British pounds, according to the Indian Express.

"The extortion charge needs to be verified," said KP Thomson, circle inspector, Kaduthuruthy station, the Bangalore Mirror reported.