06-22-2009, 05:13 AM
<b>Child sexual abuse: Children's photos, DVDs found</b>
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai...how/4678154.cms
20 Jun 2009, 0513 hrs IST, Arun Ram, TNN
CHENNAI: Several photographs of children and three DVDs with unknown content are among the vital evidences collected by detectives of the
Gloucestershire Constabulary Child Protection Unit from the Kovalam beachside house of Patrick Matthews in the case of alleged <b>child sexual abuse by the UK national</b>. Matthews, a 62-year-old who worked as a volunteer at <b>St George Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in the city between 2003 and 2006 is accused of sexually abusing several boys of the school boarding. </b>
Earlier investigations had yielded indications that Matthews used to take boys from the school boarding to the Kovalam house. Detective inspector Mark Little, accompanied by the local police, on Thursday visited Matthew's seaside retreat on 58 Bajaraikoil Street in the fishing village of Kovalam, 25 km from the city.
The investigators have recovered the following items from the house named Lakshmi House': A black folder containing paperwork of Batemans Trust (which introduced Matthews to St George School as a volunteer); Three CDs/ DVDs, Two packets of various photographs (including those of children); a letter, and a floor plan of the Kovalam property. It is learnt that Matthews had taken with him the documents of the property and a laptop which he was using during his stay here.
The investigators interviewed several people in the village including panchayat president S Janakiraman, who happens to be the caretaker of Matthews' house.
Neighbours said Matthews used to bring a few boys from outside the village during his stay in the house. "The boys, who were said to be from Chennai, appeared to be in the age group of 10- 12 years. They would stay with him for two or three days at a stretch," said a neighbour. A woman down the street recollected Patri' (Patrick) as a genial man who liked to spend time with children in the village. "They (children) would flock to his place when he comes. He would give them T-shirts, candies and pencils," she said.
Gaining entry into the house, TOI found that the place was well maintained even in the absence of Matthews for almost three years now. The single-storey house that stands on a two-ground plot faces the sea. It has four rooms, including two bedrooms fitted with air-conditioners, built around a square atrium which is open to the sky. Bamboo chairs and Indian art on the walls give no indication that the occupant was a foreigner. A 1000-sq ft lawn with trees on one side of the house makes it an ideal summer retreat.
Though Matthews joined St George School as a volunteer only in 2003, Kovalam villagers said he has been around for almost 15 years. "Matthews first came as a guest at a nearby star hotel. He kept coming back from the UK a few years. He befriended the headmaster of a school in the village and used to stay with him during his visits. About eight years ago, something went wrong between them and Matthews decided to buy land and build his own house here," said a village elder.
While one of the villagers interviewed by the investigators said the house was registered in Matthews' name, agencies will now be looking into the legality of Matthews, a foreigner in India, owning real estate here. While the Tranfer of Properties Act is silent on a foreigner registering land in his name, the Foreign Exchange Maintenance Act calls for permission from the Reserve Bank of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai...how/4678154.cms
20 Jun 2009, 0513 hrs IST, Arun Ram, TNN
CHENNAI: Several photographs of children and three DVDs with unknown content are among the vital evidences collected by detectives of the
Gloucestershire Constabulary Child Protection Unit from the Kovalam beachside house of Patrick Matthews in the case of alleged <b>child sexual abuse by the UK national</b>. Matthews, a 62-year-old who worked as a volunteer at <b>St George Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in the city between 2003 and 2006 is accused of sexually abusing several boys of the school boarding. </b>
Earlier investigations had yielded indications that Matthews used to take boys from the school boarding to the Kovalam house. Detective inspector Mark Little, accompanied by the local police, on Thursday visited Matthew's seaside retreat on 58 Bajaraikoil Street in the fishing village of Kovalam, 25 km from the city.
The investigators have recovered the following items from the house named Lakshmi House': A black folder containing paperwork of Batemans Trust (which introduced Matthews to St George School as a volunteer); Three CDs/ DVDs, Two packets of various photographs (including those of children); a letter, and a floor plan of the Kovalam property. It is learnt that Matthews had taken with him the documents of the property and a laptop which he was using during his stay here.
The investigators interviewed several people in the village including panchayat president S Janakiraman, who happens to be the caretaker of Matthews' house.
Neighbours said Matthews used to bring a few boys from outside the village during his stay in the house. "The boys, who were said to be from Chennai, appeared to be in the age group of 10- 12 years. They would stay with him for two or three days at a stretch," said a neighbour. A woman down the street recollected Patri' (Patrick) as a genial man who liked to spend time with children in the village. "They (children) would flock to his place when he comes. He would give them T-shirts, candies and pencils," she said.
Gaining entry into the house, TOI found that the place was well maintained even in the absence of Matthews for almost three years now. The single-storey house that stands on a two-ground plot faces the sea. It has four rooms, including two bedrooms fitted with air-conditioners, built around a square atrium which is open to the sky. Bamboo chairs and Indian art on the walls give no indication that the occupant was a foreigner. A 1000-sq ft lawn with trees on one side of the house makes it an ideal summer retreat.
Though Matthews joined St George School as a volunteer only in 2003, Kovalam villagers said he has been around for almost 15 years. "Matthews first came as a guest at a nearby star hotel. He kept coming back from the UK a few years. He befriended the headmaster of a school in the village and used to stay with him during his visits. About eight years ago, something went wrong between them and Matthews decided to buy land and build his own house here," said a village elder.
While one of the villagers interviewed by the investigators said the house was registered in Matthews' name, agencies will now be looking into the legality of Matthews, a foreigner in India, owning real estate here. While the Tranfer of Properties Act is silent on a foreigner registering land in his name, the Foreign Exchange Maintenance Act calls for permission from the Reserve Bank of India