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Paul Shah rape charge: Survivor contradicts own testimony, yet circumstantial evidence may prove the crime

File: Paul Shah
File: Paul Shah

Kathmandu, April 18

The ongoing judicial proceeding about the Paul Shah rape charge has made a big turn with the alleged survivor speaking against her own previous testimony at the Tanahun District Court on Sunday.

However, experts say this might not be enough for Shah to get rid of the serious charge as there are many pieces of circumstantial evidence that prove Shah indeed committed the crime.

In her statement during the hearing in Damauli yesterday, the minor, also an aspiring singer, said all the charges labelled against Paul Shah are false and she is a good friend of him. She claimed she was forced by the police to sign different documents that contained charges against him.

Lawyers fighting the case against Shah, however, think the minor was forced to change her testimony as she was threatened or enticed by the alleged perpetrator’s side.

“This should not be considered the final truth,” advocate Mohna Ansari says, “This might be a result of playing with the survivor’s psychology. She might be forced to turn hostile by showing various dreams.”

“I hope the court will consider everything.”

On September 4, 2012, the Supreme Court, in a final verdict on the Nepal Government Vs Chandra Prasad Tiwari case, said the alleged survivor, who is a minor, turning hostile in a rape case cannot be considered a sole ground to acquit the alleged suspect. Justices Sushila Karki and Tarka Raj Bhatta have said the alleged survivor’s physical medical examination shall be considered crucial evidence.

Lawers privy to the Paul Shah case say such circumstantial evidence is against Shah this time.

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