Panaji: A fast track court has acquitted Arambol resident, Joel D’Souza, of raping a foreigner in June 2022 on the pretext of giving her a mud bath at a lake in Arambol. The court gave D’Souza, who was 32 at the time, the benefit of doubt after the survivor was not examined.“Although the complaint has been exhibited in evidence, as it is not proved in terms of law, no weightage can be given to the same,” the court stated, adding the fact that the accused raping the complainant could only be proved through evidence of the complainant. It said the circumstantial evidence brought on record is not sufficient.Two witnesses turned hostile, and the scene of offense panchanama conducted at the lake was not proved.The investigating officer stated that she does not have any documents to show that the survivor was staying in Goa. She verified the survivor’s passport, which had a visa stamp showing when she came to Goa. However, she did not attach the passport or obtain any copies. The officer also said that she had no documents in the chargesheet nor any statement of any independent witnesses to corroborate the fact that the survivor was in Goa at the time of the alleged incident.
