Friday, May 25, 2012

Priest’s bail plea rejected - Rita Joseph



Priest’s bail plea rejected

The priest's lawyer said his client would approach the high court for bail.       Posted on May 26, 2012, 7:27 AM


By Rita Joseph
New Delhi:
A Delhi court Friday dismissed the bail plea of Fr Joseph Palanivel Jeyapaul who is fighting extradition to the United States.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Bansal at Patiala House courts denied bail on the grounds that Fr. Jeyapaul is facing serious allegations that attract severe punishment and is likely to abscond if granted bail.
Praying for bail, the priest’s counsel S P Kashyap argued that the 57-year-old priest has been in custody since March 16.
He said a false case has been filed by the U.S. and that no medical certificate of the prosecutirix is on record.
He also contended that the priest had served for more than three decades in India and had a blemishless record.
The priest is charged with outraging the modesty of a minor in a parish under Crookston diocese in the United States where he worked during 2004-2005.
His lawyer argued that the girl had come up with the accusation to garner compensation.
However, Public Prosecutor Navin Krishna Giri said there is an admission of guilt by the defendant in the petition.
The priest, he added, is accused of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree which is a grave and serious offence.
The priest's lawyer said his client would approach the high court for bail.
Indian Catholic News

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