Dad gets 25 yrs RI for sexual assault
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 10 2022:
In one of the speedy trials against women and children, N Keertichand, Special Judge POCSO Churachandpur sentenced a 52-year old man to undergo 25 years rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25,000 for committing sexual assault on his own minor daughter under Sections 6 and 10 of POCSO Act.
The sentence was announced yesterday after hearing the Special PP and defence counsel at length.
The accused was convicted by the same Court on May 5 .
During the hearing, the Special PP submitted that the accused has been convicted under Sections 6 & 10 of POCSO Act, 2012 for committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor girl who is his own daughter.
The Special PP also submitted that the crime committed by the convict is a serious offence and prayed to award him the maximum sentence of life imprisonment with fine.
On the other hand, the defence counsel of the accused contended there was no evidence of bad moral character on the part of the accused in his life and prayed for awarding the minimum sentence prescribed under Sections 6 & 10 of POCSO Act.
The Court, after hearing both the parties sentenced the convict to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 25 years and pay a fine of Rs 25,000 and in default of payment of fine, the convict has to undergo one more month of simple imprisonment.
The said fine of Rs 25,000 if deposited by the convict shall be deposited in the Court and it would given to the victim girl as compensation.
The Court further sentenced the convict to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of seven years and pay a fine of Rs 15,000 under Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and in default of payment of fine, the convict has to undergo one more month of simple imprisonment.
The fine of Rs15,000, if deposited by the convict, shall be deposited to the Court and the amount be given to the victim girl as compensation.
The period which the convict had already spent in judicial custody during investigation as well as during the trial, if any, would be set off from the prison term and the two sentences announced by the Court shall run concurrently.
The Court also recommended a compensation of Rs 5,00,000 to the victim under the Manipur Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019 as per section 33(2)) of POCSO Act as well as under section 357A of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
According to a complaint lodged by the elder sister of the victim, the convict committed rape on January 10, 2020 .
The IO of the case, after completing the investigation, submitted charge-sheet against the convict for trial and framed charges under Sections 6 and 10 of POCSO Act during the charge hearing on December 17 last year.