7 years for rape convict
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 05 2019:
In one of the fastest judgements delivered by a Court in a sexual assault of a minor victim, Special Judge POCSO Senapati sentenced one Lal Bahadur (40) to 7 years in jail for sexually assaulting a minor girl on September 21 last year.
The conviction order by A Noutuneshwari Devi, Special Judge POCSO Senapati, was passed after the trial of the case began on March 4, this year.
It may be mentioned that yesterday, the same Court had convicted Lal Bahadur alias Dilip Lakander s/o (L) Shanta Bir Lakander Talong of Koubru Leikha, under section 4 of the POCSO Act for sexual assaulting the minor victim.
The case began against the convict after a complaint was lodged by the father of the victim that his minor daughter was sexually assaulted by the convict at convict's residence on September 21 last year and he had been on the run after committing the heinous crime.
Later the convict surrendered before Kangpokpi PS on October 30.Soon after the IO of the case submitted the necessary charge sheet, the Court registered a case for the trial on March 4 this year and charge was farmed against the convict for trial on the next date (March 5).During the month long trial, the Court recorded the statements of 15 prosecution witnesses and reserved the judgment order on March 30 following the final argument hearing.
Yesterday the Court announced the judgment order against the convict Lal Bahadur and fixed today for the sentence hearing.
During the hearing today, the Court heard the submission of Special PP Koshia Mao and Advocate Okendro Singh (defense counsel of the convict).
The Special PP submitted that the minor victim suffered severe mental trauma due to the crime committed on her by the convict and due to the trauma, she has not been able to recover and is also not in a position to mingle with her friends.
She further submitted that due to the heinous act committed by the convict, the normal life of the victim, her career and future, have been destroyed and explained that the crime committed by the convict is a serious offence and as such prayed for giving maximum punishment to the convict and appropriate compensation to the victim.
On the other hand, the defense counsel of the convict submitted that the convict is the sole earning member in his family and his family members have been suffering great financial hardship after he (convict) was lodged in judicial custody.
The defense counsel further submitted that there are no previous criminal records against the convict and as such prayed for taking leniency while announcing the sentence against the convict.
After hearing the submissions from both sides, the Court sentenced the convict Lal Bahadur alias Dilip Lakander to 7 years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 to be paid within two months time.
In default of payment of the fine, the convict has to undergo another two months simple imprisonment and the said fine amount will be given to victim's mother, the Court rued.
The Court also recommended a compensation of Rs 10, 50,000 to be given to the victim's mother by the District Legal Services Authority Senapati, within a period of 60 days.