Court sentences rapist to life in jail
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 16 2020: In one of the landmark judgment concerning crimes against women and children, Special Judge, POCSO, Senapati, A Noutuneshwari Devi, sentenced 52 year old Ashin alias Kasinba of Nungtek Karvanmuang village part II (Noney) to life imprisonment and fined him Rs 2 lakh, for grievously injuring and sexually assaulting a minor.

The Court also recommended a compensation of Rs 6 lakh to be paid to the victim, through her mother, under the Manipur Victim Compensation Scheme.

Yesterday, the Court had convicted Ashin in connection with the crime which occurred on August 1, 2017, before fixing today for the sentence hearing.

The convict Ashin, was produced from Manipur Central Jail Sajiwa for the sentence hearing and during the proceeding today, the Court heard the submission of Special PP Koshia Mao who submitted that the victim has been suffering severe mental trauma as a result of the acts perpetrated by the convict upon her at such a tender age.

The Special PP explained that the victim is unable to recover and is no longer in a position to mingle with her friends as the said incident has left a big vacuum in her life which will take years to recover.

Her academic carrier has been spoiled for no mistake on her part and nothing can be done to bring her life back to normal.

She was unconscious and remained in the ICU for more than 20 days and her parents incurred unimaginable medical expenses.

They belong to a very poor family from a remote hill village of Senapati district and the family had to run from one hospital to another in order to save the victim.

The family suffered intolerable hardship and unbearable expenditures due to which they are still facing monetary and mental hardship and have been unable to recover from the trauma, the Special PP claimed.

The Special PP continued that the Senior Consultant of Orthopedic Department, Raj Medicity, in his statement as prosecution witness during the trial, clearly stated that the medical expenses incurred by the victim' s family was about Rs 2 lakh and they have also incurred huge expenses in travelling to and from Senapati and Imphal for more than 20 days.

Pointing out the facts, the Special PP reasoned that no mercy or leniency should be shown to the convict and instead, he should be given the maximum sentence as prescribed by the law.

On the other hand, Ashin's defense counsel contended that Ashin has a family, including a minor child and he is the only bread earner of his family.

The counsel claimed that there is no evidence of bad moral character on his part prior to the incident and as such, prayed for awarding the minimum sentence to Ashin.

After hearing the submissions of both parties and going through the case records, the Court sentenced Ashin to life imprisonment.

The Court also fined him Rs 2 lakh, to be paid within 2 months and ordered that the fine amount be given to the victim through her mother.

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