Court decrees 12 yr RI for rapist, convicts another
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 14 2022: The court of Additional Sessions Judge (FTC) for Crime Against Women sentenced one Usham Roben, who had earlier been convicted by the same court for raping a girl, to 12 years rigorous imprisonment.

During sentence hearing of the case, convict's counsel placed before the court that 46-year old Roben has no criminal case in the past and is the sole bread earner of his weak mother and two sons.

Roben's wife too submitted an affidavit to the court.

After patient hearing of the statements from both the sides and examining the submitted documents, the court sentenced Roben to 12 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh, which is to be given to the victim as compensation.

As the convict had served 116 days during the trial of the case in judicial custody from December 10, 2001 to April 5, 2002, the court ruled that the days that the convict spent in the judicial custody would be commuted from the total sentence period.

However, if the convict could not pay the fine amounting Rs 1 lakh, then he has to serve jail time for one more year, the court said and referred the matter of providing compensation to the victim to DLSA Imphal West as per legal norms.

In another case, Special Judge, Fast Track Special Court no.1, Manipur Salam Imocha on Monday declared one Potshangbam Johnson (22) guilty in the rape case of a minor girl and further fixed the sentence hearing on November 16.Johnson s/o Birendra of Keishamthong Hodam Leirak was arrested in connection with the rape case on February 9, 2019 and was kept in judicial custody, before being released on bail.

He attended the hearing on Monday after which he was taken into custody immediately as the court announced the conviction and remanded him to judicial custody.

According to the report made to the police by the victim's father, Johnson kidnapped his (victim's father) underage daughter from Hiyangthang Bazar on February 9, 2019 at around 10 am, while she was out shopping and hid her away with intent to take her in as his (Johnson) wife without her consent.

Based on the report, police launched an investigation and rescued the victim from Kabinam village, Maram on February 22 the same year, while also arresting Johnson.

On questioning, Johnson contended that he and the victim were in a consensual relationship.

However, as he was already married with kids, he did not disclose the relationship to the family.

Thus, both of them eloped on February 9, 2019 and had been hiding away at Kabinam village, Maram since then.

The case IO G Lanbilu, who was then sub-inspector of Wangoi PS, had filed the charge sheet after a detailed investigation.

The Court, after listening to the arguments of both APP and defence counsel, found Johnson guilty of the charges levelled against him under Section 4 of POCSO Act.

It will announce the quantum of punishment on November 16 .

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