Indian priest admits to molesting minor

Rome, Apr 20: An Indian priest, who had allegedly admitted to molesting a 10-year-old girl in Italy will face his trial which could fetch a jail term of upto up to 14 years, his lawyer said on Monday, Apr 19.

"The trial will happen and it will happen soon," Giovanni Gebbia said.

The priest, identified only as David, hails from Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Though he was released from prison last week, he remains under house arrest at a local convent in Teramo town, 175 km from Rome.

Gebbia said that the priest was spending his time in prayer.

"He is a little better now that the risks of being in prison have been removed. He spent the weekend praying, in meditation, in total silence," Gebbia said.

The priest confessed to sexually abusing a minor girl on Dec 19, 2009 during his visit to the house in her parents absence.

He said that placed the girl's hand on his genital area after offering her a Santa Claus doll.

The priest, who was on his visit to India to attend to his ailing mother when the incident came to light, was arrested a week ago after his return.

If convicted he could face a up to 14 years in prison for sexual violence against a minor, Gebbie said.

"The sentence can total between seven and 14 years," he said.

OneIndia News