PANJIM: The Children’s Court acquitted one Lazly Fernandes from Margao who was charged under the Goa Children’s Act and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act.
Margao Police arrested Fernandes in 2014 and the case was investigated by Police Inspector Sudesh Naik. He was charged under sections 370, 376 IPC, Sections 4, 5 and 6 of Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, Sec 4 of POCSO and Sec 8(2) of Goa Children’s Act.
As per the prosecution case, Fernandes had brought two minor girls for sex trade and had kept them in a hotel room in Margao. It was also alleged that he had sexually abused one of the minor girls.
Fernandes has been acquitted as the Children’s Court held there was no evidence on record to show that he had brought the minor girls for sex trade nor was the prosecution able to prove that they were supplied to any customers. The prosecution also failed to prove that the victim was abused by the accused.
The hotel manager and room boy who were also arrested by the police were earlier discharged.
