Parents complain to police against director of boys’ home in Kochi

A Catholic priest Father George, alias Jerry, 40, director of a boys’ home in Perumpadappu in West Kochi, was arrested by the Palluruthy police on Sunday morning following complaints that he was sexually abusing some of the residents of the home. The priest has been remanded in custody and sent to jail in Mattancherry.

He was arrested following complaints from the parents of the boys allegedly abused by the priest. The priest is reported to have been in charge of the boys’ home for more than three years. There have been allegations that the priest had been sexually abusing some of the boys since December last year. The case of abuse was exposed after some of the boys complained to their parents.

The police received a complaint from the parents on Saturday night and the arrest was made on Sunday morning after conducting a preliminary probe.

Charges

The accused has been charged with offences under Section 377 (unnatural offence) of the Indian Penal Code, sections 7 (touch with sexual intent), 8 (sexual assault) and 9 D (assault by someone responsible for the protection of the child) read with 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of the POCSO Act and Section 75 (punishment for cruelty to child) of the Juvenile Justice Act.