Kannur: A Catholic priest and two nuns, who are accused of covering up a clergy abuse case, on March 17surrendered before police in Kerala.
Father Thomas Therakam, Sisters Ophelia and Betty Jose appeared before the circle inspector of Peravoor, a town in Kannur district.
The Kerala High Court, which heard their anticipatory bail plea on March 14, directed them to surrender to the police within five days.
The three had gone into hiding after police registered a case against them for covering up the abuse of a minor girl by a priest.
The first to arrive at the police station was Father Therakam, who was the chairperson of the Wayanad Child Welfare Committee where Sister Jose was the woman member. Sister Ophelia, superintendent of Holy Infant Mary Orphanage.
They are the eighth, ninth and tenth accused in the case.
On February 28, the police arrested the main accused in the case Father Robin Vadakkumcherry for allegedly abusing a 16-year-old girl. The 48-year-old priest was the vicar of St Sebastian’s Church, a parish under Mananthavady diocese. The girl studied in the eleventh grade of a parish school.