NGO demands immediate suspension of Dr Sapeco in Keeling's case

Panaji, Mar 21 (UNI) Goan NGO Utt Goenkara today expressed its concern over the Government's delay in suspending Dr Silvano Dias Sapeco, Professor and Head of Forensic Medicine, Goa Medical College, for his alleged negligence while conducting the first post-mortem of slain British teenager Scarlett Eden Keeling.

Utt Goenkara spokesman Adv Aires Rodrigues, in a statement, alleged that Dr Sapeco was using his political connections to get away with his irresponsible and unprofessional lapses.

The NGO, he said, plans to organise a public meeting at Anjuna next week to expose Dr Sapeco's misdeeds and to explain to people as to how an ''honest officer'' Police Sub-Inspector Nerlon Albuquerque was unduly victimised.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat should ask Dr Sapeco to explain how his five hour first post-mortem on the body of Scarlett did not reveal vital details and conclusions that came to light during the second autopsy, Adv Rodrigues said.

''Records bore testimony that PSI Nerlon Albuquerque had supervised and conducted investigation of the case in a very professional way and as required by law,'' he said.

Adv Rodrigues challenged anyone to show any lapses committed by Mr Albuquerque and demanded that no one should try to make the PSI a scapegoat out of political vendetta.

He stated that the official records indicated that Mr Albuquerque was holding charge as Police Inspector of Anjuna Police Station while the investigating officer of Scarlett's case was Police Sub Inspector Laxman Amonkar. Mr Albuquerque only took over the investigation of the case on the fifth day when PSI Amonkar was sick with jaundice.

He wondered as to why the Goa Police have developed cold feet to book Scarlett's mother, Fiona Mackeown, under the Goa Children's Act for her negligence and gross dereliction of duty in abandoning 15-year-old Scarlett in Goa while setting off to holiday in Karnataka.

Demanding that there should be a total crackdown on rampant drugs and other anti-social activities on the coastal belt in particular, Adv Rodrigues urged the Goa Government to send a very clear message to the world that tourists looking for drugs, sex and other nefarious activities were not welcome or needed in the state.

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