Sexual exploitation by priests: Crime Branch to examine church records

Kottayam: Investigative officers of the State Police Crime Branch has made it clear that they would examine church records relating to the internal inquiry conducted by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church into the allegation that five of its priests had sexually exploited a woman after threatening to reveal her confessional secrets publicly.

A top official of the Crime Branch on Tuesday visited the Church's headquarters, near here and met high level authorities of the order. The investigation team has found a discrepancy between the statements given by the woman to Church authorities and later to the police. In the statement given to the inquiry commission of the Church, the woman had denied her husband's allegation that the accused priest had blackmailed her into sexual submission.

However, she told the CB that the accused had repeatedly coerced her into having sex with them.

The five priests are indicted with charges for rape, blackmail and outraging the modesty of a woman. The charges may attract a punishment minimum of rigourous imprisonment of 10 years or a life sentence, in extreme cases.