PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday suspended the sentence of Lawrence Dias of Merces and granted bail subject to furnishing fresh personal bond and one surety of like amount.
The District and Sessions Court, Panjim on January 10, this year, had sentenced Dias to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years and to pay fine of Rs 10,000 for assaulting a senior resident doctor in the Casualty Ward of Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, over delay in treatment. The incident had occurred in November 2014, when Dias, a snake catcher had gone to the hospital complaining of a snake bite.
High Court Judge Justice M S Karnik has asked Dias not to leave the State without permission of the trial court and to furnish his detailed address and contact details. He has also been asked to make himself available whenever the appeal comes up for final hearing.
While allowing the criminal appeal and suspending the sentence, the court observed that Dias had not misused his liberty when he was out on bail and having gone through the impugned judgment and order of the trial court. Adv Sahil Sardessai argued on behalf of the applicant.
