Team Herald
MARGAO: Judicial Magistrate First Class Shilpa Pandit on Thursday acquitted Francisco Pereira of desecrating a cross at Cotta Chandor due to lack of evidence by the prosecution. The order was passed after examining six witnesses in the matter including the investigating officer.
It may be recalled that Francisco Pereira was accused of desecrating religious places and particularly crosses in different parts of Goa including Panjim and Margao and other places in Salcete. However, desecration charges were not framed against him in all except one case in Margao court.
He was charged of having desecrated a cross on the intervening night of June 6 and 7, 2017 at Cotta in Chandor which cross was erected when there was a canoe service provided to the people to cross the Kushawati River and was no longer being used since a bridge has been constructed across the river.
Apparently, the prosecution could not prove the charge and hence Francisco Pereira has been acquitted.
