Rape-accused Kerala priest surrenders

Edwin Figares, a priest accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and absconding since April this year, surrendered before the Aluva police on Tuesday. Figarez, former priest of Lourdes Matha Church at Puthenvelikkara in Ernakulam district, was charged with repeatedly abusing the girl from January onwards.

The victim’s mother had filed a complaint on April 1 and Figares was forced to surrender as the Supreme Court and Kerala high court rejected his petitions seeking anticipatory bail. Figares would be produced before a court on Wednesday.