Rape accused sentenced to 7 years simple imprisonment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 03 2018:
Special Judge POCSO Imphal East Gaiphulshillu Golmei yesterday sentenced a 70 year old rape convict to seven years simple imprisonment and also directed the Social Welfare Department to give Rs 5 lakh compensation to the minorvictim.
The sentence was announced in an open Court against convict Wahengbam Khomdon 70 s/o (L) Sanajaoba of Ahallup Makha Leikai.
Wahengbam Khomdon was convicted under section 4 of POCSO Act 2012 on October 29 after the final hearing of the special POCSO case of 2016.Convict W Khomdon was produced before the Court from judicial custody for the sentence hearing.
Before the sentence was announced, the Court heard the submission of defense counsel Advocate Ph Bhageshwari and her colleague and M Bishambor Public Prosecutor (PP) for the State.
The PP submitted before the Court to punish the convict to the maximum degree as the convict knew that the offence committed by him is against the law.
On the other hand the defense counsel of the convict pointed out that no allegation except the present one against the convict has been made so far and thus is not a habitual offender and has no prior conviction in any other criminal case.
The defense counsel further submitted that the convict/ accused is an aged person and prayed for giving chance to be with his family in his final days and also pointed out that convict/accused was in judicial custody till his release on bail and prayed for setting aside the period from the sentence.
On hearing the PP and defense counsel and after perusal of the relevant documents and considering the nature of crime and the matter in which the crime was executed, the Court sentenced Wahengbam Khomdon to seven years simple imprisonment in consideration of his age.
The period under which he was in judicial custody will also be set aside from the sentence.
The Court also asked Manipur State legal Services Authority to release a sum of Rs 5 lakh rupees as compensation to the victim.
Further the Directorate of Social Welfare Department was also informed to award maximum permissible compensation to the victim.