10 yrs for absconding rape convict
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 30 2018: Salam Imocha, Session Judge Thoubal, convicted 37 years old Md Zakir of Keibung Makha Leikai for raping his cousin sister and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 30,000.The judgment was announced before the open Court today after it was kept reserved after the final hearing of the case on March 27.The convict, Md Zakir (37) s/o (L) Md Sirajuddin of Keibung Makha Leikai did not appear before the Court, for the judgment and sentence hearing today and as such the Court issued a warrant of arrest against the convict as well.

The trial of the case began after the victim lodged a written complaint before the Court on February 3, 2004, that on the previous day (February 2) the convict entered her house while she was dressing up for Eid festival and forcibly pulled her down by her hair which rendered her unconscious.

On gaining consciousness the victim began experiencing pain in her private parts indicating she had been raped.

After the investigation of the Case, the IO submitted the charge sheet before the Court and charge was framed against the convict.

During the trial of the case, 8 prosecution witnesses were examined and their statements were recorded by the Court along with three defense witnesses produced by the convict in his defense.

In March 2015, during the stage of argument hearing, the entire case records went missing from the Court room but the Court still fixed a date for the hearing of the case and from that day, the convict failed to appear for the trial.

However, the relevant documents and case records were reconstructed from the records maintained by the prosecution and a warrant of arrest was issued against the convict Md Zakir.

The warrant was returned on March 22, 2017 as the convict had left his home about two years back and failed to return home and his whereabouts was not known by any of his family members.

Accordingly the convict was declared a proclaimed offender.

The Court in the conclusion of the case, decided that during the trial the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the convict had raped the victim on February 2 at the victim's residence and convicted Md Zakir.

The sentence hearing was also held today and the Court heard the submission of the Additional PP Aribam Gopendro prayed for the convict to be awarded exemplary punishment for his crime.

The Court sentenced the convict to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years along with a fine of Rs 30,000 and ordered that in default of payment of the fine, the convict has to undergo 6 months simple imprisonment.

It also ordered Rs 15,000 from the fine to be paid to the victim.

The Court further issued warrant of arrest against the convict and directed the police to take up necessary steps.

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