MUMBAI: A special Pocso court recently framed altered charges against 56-year-old priest, Fr Lawrence Johnson, who is on trial for alleged sexual assault of a teenage boy from his parish in 2015.
Johnson now faces the charge relating to penetrative sexual assault of a minor by a management or staff member of a religious institution. The second offence deals with such an assault being committed repeatedly. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
“Only by the virtue of the already stated fact in charge sheet that accused is the Father of the church and offence was committed more than once that section 5 (f) and 5(l) is being added. Thus, no prejudice will be caused to the accused as both the parties will be at liberty to lead further evidence, if any,” the court said.
The plea to alter the charges was moved by the prosecution. The defence opposed it, arguing that it was for the prosecution to prove that Johnson was a priest at the church, and the minor was under his control. It said the Pope is the head of the church.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect his privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
