Rapist convicted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 11 2018:
Maibam Manojkumar, Session Judge, Imphal West, convicted Thongam Rabi (30) of raping a girl on December 2010 and fixedDecember 13 forthe sentence hearing.
The judgment order was announced in an open Court yesterday after it was kept reserved following the final hearing on Novembers.
The convict, Thongam Rabi alias John Singh s/o Th Gouro of Bishnupur ward number 9, who is on bail in connection with the case, was present along with his counsel during the announcement of the judgment order.
The case began against the convict after a written complaint was lodged by the father of the victim on December 21, 2010, claiming that his daughter eloped with the convict and on December 20, the guardian of the convict came to his house and tried to fix the schedule of marriage.
At that time, the victim flatly denied the marriage by claiming that she did not elope with Rabi with her consent and alleged that she was abducted from Nambol area.
The victim also claimed that the convict forced himself on her apart from threatening her against disclosing the fact to her guardians.
The IO of the case, after completion of the investigation, submitted the charge sheet against the convict to Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Imphal West 1 and the case was committed to Session Court.
Charge was framed against the convict on March 2, 2016, by the Session Court but the convict pleaded not guilty and prayed for a trial.
During the 3 year long trial, the Court recorded the statements of 9 prosecution witnesses.
On the other hand, no witness was produced by the convict in his defense during the trial.
The argument hearing between the Public Prosecutor of the State and the defense counsel of the convict began from September 21 and concluded on November 5, after which the judgment order was kept reserved by the Court.
The judgment order stated that after hearing both parties and after going through the case records, the Court came to the conclusion that the convict had raped the victim on December 20, 2010 although it cannot be proven that the convict had abducted the victim or cheated or threatened her.
A such, the Court convicted Rabi under section 376 IPC Rape but acquitted him from the charges under section 366/417 and 506 IPC.
The Court also fixed December 13 for the sentence hearing to announce the quantum of punishment against the convict.