Principal sentenced to 7 yrs in jail
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 01 2019:
Maibam Manojkumar, Special Judge POCSO Imphal East, sentenced Thokchom Dharma (a school Principal) to 7 years in jail and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 for sexually assaulting a minor at a hostel operating under his school, in the last week of October, 2016.Thokchom Dharma alias Paul (46) s/o Gouro of Andro Kharam Leikai, who was convicted by the Court on May 29, was produced before the Court for the sentence hearing today and during the hearing, the Court heard the submission of Special PP, M Bishambhor and defense counsel, Advocate Kh Khogendro.
The Special PP submitted that Dharma was convicted under section 10 of POCSO Act for sexually assaulting a minor girl who is his student and is also living in the boarding of the school.
The Special PP mentioned that the convict is the guardian of all the students reading in his school and his crime is a serious offence and thus prayed for maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment along with a fine.
On the other hand, the defense counsel contended that the convict is a person having a wife and three children and he is the only bread earner of his family and he also happens to be a diabetic patient.
The defense counsel further contended that there are no evidence on the part of the convict to suggest any bad moral character prior to the incident and as such, prayed for sentencing the convict to the minimum penalty provided under section 10 of POCSO Act.
The Court went through all the materials on record and the submission of both parties in length and finally sentenced Th Dharma to rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 .
The Court further ruled that in default of payment of the fine, the convict has to undergo 6 months in jail and explained that the period which the convict has undergone during the period of investigation and trial will be set off from the sentence awarded.