Stanely Coutino, a 28-year-old local resident of Tivaivado, Calangute turned out to be an extortionist. Last night the Police arrested him for allegedly extorting a businessman. He had been continuously blackmailing the restaurant’s staff members for money. (Extortion is a criminal offence of obtaining money, property, or services from an individual or institution through compulsion or blackmail.)
According to Goa News Hub, Coutino went to various restaurants every month and collected money putting the staff in instant fear of death.
The extortion had been going on past three months until the businessman decided to lodge a complaint yesterday afternoon (3rd July). Apparently, the accused visited this particular businessman’s restaurant constantly in the owner’s absence. On complaints from the staff, the owner installed a CCTV camera on the premises. This helped in recognizing the culprit and a proof for the police to charge the guilty.
An immediate action was taken once the police were informed of the crime. The police arrested the accused late at night from his house. Calangute inspector Jivba Dalvi stated, “Stanley had been operating alone and no groups had indulged in the crime.” Luckily, police have recovered the extorted money and PI Dalvi has requested people to file an immediate FIR if such extortions occur in the future.
The accused – Stanley Coutino has been booked under section 451, 506 (ii) and section 386 of IPC has been registered for trespass, threatening with dire consequences and extorting money by threatening to kill. Furthermore, PI Dalvi has claimed that there is no guarantee of Stanley not committing the same crime in the future; hence, police are forwarding the case under section 107 CrPC to the Sub Divisional, Magistrate for further actions against the accused.
