Rape convict gets 7 yrs RI
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 21 2022: The Fast Track Special Court II today sentenced 44 years old RK Birjit of Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai to seven years rigorous imprisonment under section 4 of POCSO Act for committing sexual assault on a minor girl on June 5, 2015 .

RK Birjit s/o Sanatomba of Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai was produced before the Court from Manipur Central Jail Sajiwa for sentence hearing today after he was convicted by the same Court yesterday.

The special PP argued that sexual assault cases on minor girls are on the rise and in the present case, the victim was only 14 years when the offence was committed.

It is also submitted that the conduct of the convict can be aptly described as conduct of lusty brutes.

The convict was 37 years old at the time when the offence was committed while the victim was just 14 years old, the special PP said.

The convict's counsel, on the other hand, submitted that the convict was a young man then and he has been in jail for around 6 months and belongs to a poor family having a wife, one son and minor daughter who depend on him for their livelihood.

The defence counsel then prayed for a minimum sentence as the convict had never been involved in any criminal case earlier.

The Court, after hearing both parties and considering the facts and circumstances of the case, sentenced RK Birjit to 7 years RI and a fine of Rs 2,000 and in default of payment of the fine, the convict has to undergo another 3 months of simple imprisonment.

The Court also ordered that the period of detention which the convict had already undergone during investigation and trial of the case should be set off from the sentence of imprisonment.

The Court further recommend that Rs 3 lakh be given as compensation to the victim girl under the NALSA's Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/other Crimes-2018 .

A case was registered against the convict after the father of the victim lodged a complaint to the Women Police Station, Imphal West stating that his minor daughter was raped by the convict on June 5, 2015 inside their bathroom.

It was also alleged in the complaint that the convict had uploaded a video clip of the incident.

The same incident came to light on June 8 through a video clip which was taken by the convict.

The IO of the case submitted a charge sheet against the convict on January 28, 2018 .

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