A British woman was sexually assaulted at Sweet Water Lake near Arambol beach by a local man, who illegally operated as a masseur, right infront of her male partner.
Pernem police on Monday have arrested 32-year-old Joel Vincent D’Souza for raping mid-age British woman at Sweet Water Lake near Arambol beach. As per the complaint, the accused sexually assaulted her under the pretext of giving her massage with ‘multani mitti’ when she was lying at Sweet Water Lake along with her male partner.
Sources in the police stated that the accused is a part of the group, which illegally operates as a masseur in and around Arambol beach, which is frequented by the international tourists.
While incident happened on June 02, the victim has lodged complaint on Monday after consulting her family members back in the UK, he said. British Embassy was also contacted by the victim, police said.
After taking assistance from British Embassy, the victim lodged complaint with Pernem police station. Police Inspector Vikram Naik immediately swung into action and within one hour of getting the complaint arrested the accused.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Pernem) Siddhant Shirodkar is supervising the investigation.
A senior police officer said that the accused has been working as a librarian in the school in the past. “We have contacted the relevant police station to get his past records. Currently, he is no more working as a librarian there,” police official said.
The accused and the victim were sent for medical examination at District Hospital at Mapusa, he said adding that the accused would be produced before the local court for his custody.
The First Information report under section 376 of IPC has been registered against the accused.
