PANJIM: Charges have been framed against Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate for allegedly raping an underage girl.
The District & Sessions Court, which framed charges, will commence the trial on October 17 under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 67 (b) and (c) of the Information Technology Act.
In June, the Court had refused to stay framing of charges against him. The rape survivor’s neighbour Rosy is facing trial for abetment.
After a lengthy three-year investigation, the Women Police in July 2018 filed a 250-page charge-sheet against Monserrate and Rosy but failed to gather evidence to indict the victim’s mother who was accused of selling her daughter to the politician.
Way back in May 2016 when an FIR was registered, Monserrate was arrested for rape, human trafficking and other charges while Rosy and the girl’s mother were taken into custody for trafficking. Monserrate has since then been claiming that it was a conspiracy as he had sacked the girl from the job in his showroom on being caught stealing money.
