Paedophiles: No real govt action, activists to try SC

Wilhelm (62) and Lile Marti (60) may have been feeding into what is, by United Nations estimates, a multi-million dollar global child pornog...

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Wilhelm (62) and Lile Marti (60) may have been feeding into what is, by United Nations estimates, a multi-million dollar global child pornographic industry. But a week after The Indian Express reported that the couple had fled the country in November, violating a Supreme Court order, the Indian authorities’ response is lukewarm.

Now, Forum Against Child Sexual Abuse (FACSE), a coalition of NGOs involved with the raid on the Martis, has decided to approach the Supreme Court. ‘‘We will file a petition later this week,’’ says Altaf Shaikh of Saathi, a member-NGO. ‘‘We’ll ask that authorities be directed to find out where the Martis are, and how they left.’’

Last April, the SC granted bail to the Swiss couple on the condition that they remained in India until the matter was decided.

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Meanwhile, at the Mumbai Sessions Court building — a court here convicted the duo in 2003 for abusing streetchildren — yellowing trial papers of the couple reveal excruciating details.

• A victim’s height and weight: 4 ft/20 kg.

• Wilhelm’s methods: Coaxing a streetgirl with promises of food.

• The scope of the couple’s operations: The Martis, visiting India since a decade, had abused a number of children over the years. Their images were stored in a male relative’s computer in Switzerland. The Martis own computer-carried explicit images of children of other Asian nationalities.

Timeline of escape

Nov 1, 2004: 6 months after grant of bail, SC rejects plea to travel out of India.

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Nov 29, 2004: Swiss Embassy tells MEA: ‘‘The Martis have left India and applied for travel documents to go to a third country.’’

Dec 4, 2004: MEA forwards letter to Home Dept, which sends it to Social Service Branch. DCP Pradnya Sarvade objects to issuance of travel documents. None ask Swiss Embassy for details; none inform SC about violation of its order

Apr 3, 2005: A day after The Indian Express reports the violation, Commissioner A.N. Roy says he ‘‘will examine’’ the matter.