ARES - Daijiworld Media Network Goa

Panaji, Mar 25: Goa authorities today clarified that they will not charge Fiona Mackeown, mother of slain British teenage girl, Scarlett Eden Keeling, under Goa Children's Act, as feared by her.

"The police are more interested in investigating the death case rather than suing Fiona," state chief secretary, J P Singh, told said.

Earlier, Fiona had expressed fears that she might be charged under Goa Children's Act for neglecting her 15 year old daughter Scarlett Eden Keeling, whose bruised semi clad corpse was found on Anjuna beach on February 18.
"I have no information on that aspect," said Singh, ruling out the possibility of state prosecuting the mother under section eight of the Goa Children's Act.

Superintendent of police, Bosco George, too, refused any move to charge Fiona under the state act, which provides stringent penalty for those leaving minors in unsafe conditions.
"We never thought on those lines. Our concentration is on the investigations. We don't want to charge her," George clarified.

The statements attains important as the British mother and UK media had expressed strong possibilities of Fiona being charged under Goa Children's Act.

The mother who initially anticipated police prosecution against her had later feared for her life from the drug mafia.

Responding to her letter raising security concerns, the police have provided her armed security in Goa.
Meanwhile, Goa's senior-most bureaucrat today refuted allegations that politicians are involved in state's drug trade.

"We have no direct evidence against any politician being involved in the drug trade,"  the chief secretary said, a day after state home minister Ravi Naik made statement on the floor of the house alleging politicians' involvement in the narcotics trade in the state.

The home minister, participating in the discussion during the ongoing state legislative assembly session, had alleged  that `some politicians and outside media are involved in the drug trade.'
Ironically, home minister himself was accused of having links with the narcotic lobby by a british mother Fiona after police allegedly tried to hush up the case of he daughter's death.

The home minister had stirred himself clear from any charges even as a national news channel ran a sting operation naming his son, Roy, being indulged in the trade.

This morning, the home minister, refused to comment on the issue. "It's a secret and we will let you know soon," the minister said responding to his allegations on the floor of the assembly.

Singh, seniormost bureaucrat and state's home secretary, conceded that the home minister has made `some statements' on the floor of the house and authorities will look at those aspects.

"I have heard that (the statements), I will have to discuss them with the home minister," Singh said.
On another allegation on scribes, Singh commented `there is no direct evidence against media.'
When questioned about Scarlett's death case being handed over to the central bureau of investigation (CBI), the chief secretary said that the government has already declared that they are open for the option.

"I cant tell you when exactly the case would be handed over but we will take the decision, within a day or two," Singh said.