PANAJI
Two beat constables, attached to the Pernem police station, have been suspended after a preliminary inquiry report indicted them of allegedly seeking protection money from a British national facing legal action for peddling drugs and overstaying.
Head constable Rajesh Yeshi and constable Appa Parab were issued their suspension order by North SP Shobhit Saxena. A disciplinary inquiry has been initiated against them.
Seventy six-year-old Stephen Slotwiner, arrested on September 5 for allegedly possessing synthetic psychoactive drugs worth Rs 15.48 lakh, had accused the two policemen of extorting Rs 2 lakh from him as 'protection money.'
"The matter was brought to the notice of the Pernem police but North SP took serious cognizance of the allegation and conducted a prompt inquiry. The beat cops were indicted of the charge and a suspension order was issued against them," sources told The Goan. Parab was transferred to Arambol outpost prior to the order.
A departmental inquiry will cover each and every aspect of the matter. Sources further said that Slotwiner is a convicted paedophile, jailed for abusing two minors over forty decades back, in his country. He was reportedly sentenced for seven years and eventually turned to India where he has been reportedly living for 20 years without a valid visa.
He was living at a rented premises in Arambol from where he was arrested for allegedly trading in the lethal business. An investigation into this FIR is also on while he is reportedly remanded to judicial custody.
