British National Goes Into Hiding with Minor Son Amid Divorce Battle

KOCHI:
Following reports that absconding British national James Robert Edward Pierce may have left the country, City Police issue a lookout notice against him.
The move came after attempts by a team led by Fort Kochi SI Antony Joseph Netto in Goa proved futile. It was following the complaint of a Kollam native Anna Mathews that her husband, a British national, had absconded with their five-year-old son Samuel Charles Robert Pierce, that the Netto-led team left for Goa to trace James and Samuel.
Divorce proceedings of Anna and James began in 2012. The court granted Samuel’s permanent custody to Anna. Last year, James received interim custody of the child for six days till December 31. However, he and Samuel have gone untraceable till date.
Following this, Anna, who is working with a PR firm, lodged a complaint with Mattancherry police.
“We could not trace him in Goa. Hence, the team left from there on Tuesday. Right now, we have not received any clue that he has left the country. However, it may be possible and so, a lookout notice will be issued again”, said Mattancherry ACP Vijayan S.
James had not appeared when the court considered the case on January 3. However, his lawyer produced a letter two days later stating that James had moved to Goa and would not disclose his
location. The police team left for Goa last Friday to trace the father-son duo.