PANAJI: Holy pilgrimage to seek blessings from the Goencho Saib turned into a nightmare for the de Souza family from Malvan, Deobag in Maharashtra when their youngest daughter Helen was run over by a vehicle on December 1. The vehicle was being driven by Jonah Fernandes, 26, son of Remo Fernandes.
The girl was taken to Mapusa District Hospital by the 108 ambulance and was transferred to Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim on the same day, she stated. She has undergone two operations till date, one on her broken left ankle and the other a skin graft on the same ankle.
She also has five stitches on her right temple where she sustained deep bruises on hitting the road as she fell.
Speaking to The Goan at GMC, the minor and her sister, Loytina de Souza, 22, said that the duo were walking by the side of the road in Guirim on their way from Mapusa towards Porvorim. The sisters along with their mother had left from Sindhudurg on foot towards Old Goa on November 29 and planned to return on December 3, after the Feast of St Francis Xavier.
“The car hit us from the back. My younger sister fell down and there was a lot of blood. Seeing the blood, I fainted too. Someone from the crowd called 108 ambulance and the police came too. We were then taken to the Mapusa District Hospital,” Loytina said.
The duo held that Remo and his son, Jonah, allegedly stopped the car a little ahead after the accident. “But they remained seated in the car and did not step out to check on us. Both of them then followed us to the hospital, where the police took our statements,” the sisters informed.
Loytina said that Remo visited her sister on December 3 at GMC and allegedly offered an amount of Rs 50,000 as financial help, which the mother as well as the girl declined. Following this, Remo allegedly verbally abused the 17 year-old.
The complaint in this case was filed only on December 15 by head constable Kishorkumar Madan Naik of Mapusa police station on behalf of the State. Naik had offered a detailed report of his observations of the scene while on his duty call. PI Tushar Lotlikar of Mapusa Police Station confirmed that the statements were recorded at Mapusa District Hospital.
Meanwhile, Remo has been booked by Agassaim police under section r/w 2 (m) for abusing a minor girl at ward 105 of Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim on December 3.
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AS IT HAPPENED
* A girl is run over by a vehicle on December 1
* Remo's son, Jonah Fernandes, 26, is on the wheels
* The girl is rushed on an 108 ambulance Mapusa District Hospital
* The same day, she is transferred to Goa Medical College and Hospital * She has undergone two operations till date
* She also has five stitches on her right temple
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TOTAL DISTORTION AND
FABRICATION OF FACTS,
SAYS REMO FERNANDES
Remo Fernandes while speaking to The Goan refuted the accusations made against him saying they are all false and “a total distortion and fabrication of facts”.
​​​In a statement Remo said “However, much against my wishes, I have been advised to refrain from coming out with a rebuttal at this stage. I would rather let the law take its course. I do however reserve the liberty to initiate appropriate proceedings, both before the Civil and Criminal Forums, against all individuals, and specifically against Mr. Aires Rodrigues, for the material alleged against me and my son, which has clear defamatory overtones.”
