Remo had abused girl, son kept mum: Witnesses

PANJIM: The pop-icon Remo Fernandes may have a difficult year ahead to prove himself right. At least five eye-witnesses have corroborated the fact that the performer/entertainer had hurled abuses at the victim inside the hospital ward where she is being treated. 

The only set back for the Agassaim police is that they are forced to rely on the crucial depositions since Ward 105 is not equipped with CCTV cameras, that could have provided videographic evidence of the alleged episode. 

Agassaim police inspector Jivba Dalvi, however, stated the statements of ‘independent witnesses’ are itself concrete evidence against the Padmashree awardee. “The statements of GMC staff and some patients have corroborated the abuse allegations. They are independent witnesses who are not related to the girl,” he said speaking to Herald. 

The officer confirmed the GMC communicated to the police that it has not installed CCTV cameras in the ward. “We nonetheless have enough material on record to show that Remo entered the ward and verbally abused the girl,” he said declining to disclose further details of the investigation. 

The witnesses, sources said, also stated that Remo’s son Jonah preferred to stay out of it even as he accompanied his father to the government-run hospital and met the victim. “Both father-son duo entered the ward, which has been confirmed by the ward security but Jonah did not abuse the girl,” an official said. 

The police had sought from the GMC authorities CCTV footage of the ward based on a complaint filed by lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues accusing Remo of abusing the 17-year-old Malvan-native. 

Remo, presently in Portugal, is expected to reach Goa on January 8 and most likely to move the Children’s Court seeking anticipatory bail. 

Meanwhile, Rodrigues has challenged Remo to substantiate his “reckless allegation” that the minor child was attempting to extort money. 

Stating that he had nothing personal against Remo Fernandes, he has also stated that he has pursued the case only after Fr Savio Barreto, Director of Basilica of Bom Jesus narrated the incident to him on December 18. 

Rodrigues also rubbished Remo’s claim that the case against him was false and filed with ulterior motives.