Sikh Priest on Glasgow Temple Sex Charge

spnadmin · #1 (**permalink**) 18-Jan-2011, 03:34 AM

Sikh priest on Glasgow temple sex charge

A Sikh priest has appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl at a temple in Glasgow.

Surinder Singh is alleged to have touched the girl and tried to kiss her at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in the city's Otago Street on Saturday.

The 52-year-old, who is visiting Scotland from India on a visa, denied the charge at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

He was remanded in custody after a motion for bail from his lawyer was opposed by the Crown.

Mr Singh is accused of touching the girl on the hands, attempting to kiss her on the mouth, kissing her face and placing food in her mouth at the temple.
'Absconding risk'

Prosecutor Clare Arias said: "The accused is in this country on an Indian passport and is a priest in the temple.

"He has now been dismissed following this alleged incident and he has stated to members of the congregation that he intends to leave the country."

Mr Singh's lawyer, James Mulgrew, told the court that his client was willing to hand his passport into a local police station if he was granted bail but Sheriff John Baird refused the motion.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/united-kingdom/34170-sikh-priest-glasgow-temple-sex-charge.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34170

Sheriff Baird said that Mr Singh would be remanded in custody as there was a "substantial risk of him absconding and failing to appear".

The married priest will appear again next month for trial.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...-west-12208863

Seeker9 · #2 (**permalink**) 18-Jan-2011, 04:01 AM

Oh Dear
Otago Street is my favourite Gurdwara out of the three in Glasgow....

spnadmin · #3 (**permalink**) 18-Jan-2011, 04:13 AM

He has been charged. Let's see what unfolds. In Scotland, three verdicts are possible: found guilty, not guilty, unproved.

CaramelChocolate · #4 (**permalink**) 19-Jan-2011, 07:09 AM

a think a spiritual lesson is to be learnt when we hear stories like these, and indeed Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji talks about this issue too. and that is a spiritual/religious experience is easy to achieve but it is much harder to purify the soul. therefore dont assume things based upon appearances as holiness comes from within..

spnadmin · #5 (**permalink**) 23-Feb-2011, 06:10 AM

Sikh priest convicted of Glasgow temple sex attack

A Sikh priest has been convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in his room at a temple in Glasgow's west end.

Surinder Singh tried to touch and kiss the youngster at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Otago Street on 15 January.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34170

The 53-year-old, who was visiting Scotland from India at the time, was found guilty after a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34170

Sheriff Anthony Deutch deferred sentence until next month.

The court heard Singh touched the girl on the hands, attempted to kiss her on the mouth and place food in her mouth.

The girl told the court she felt "dirty" after the incident.
'Evidence incredible'

The court heard she had been at a religious event at the Otago Street temple when she was asked to Singh's room so that he would teach her classical music on the harmonium.

The court heard the girl told a family friend and her father about the incident immediately after leaving the room.

In his evidence, Singh said the young girl approached him and said she wanted to learn classical music.

The married priest said the victim had lied when giving evidence.

But the sheriff told him: "I find the evidence of the Crown witnesses to be both credible and reliable and reject your evidence as incredible, therefore find you guilty."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...-west-12544796