70 year old convicted of raping minor
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 29 2018:
The Judge of the Special Court of POCSO Imphal East today convicted 70 year old rape accused Wahengbam Khomdon under section 4 of POCSO Act and fixed 2 November for the sentence hearing.
The conviction was announced in an open Court after it was kept reserved after the final hearing of the case.
The convict Wahengbam Khomdon who was out on bail in connection with the case was present during the announcement of the order today.
According to the Court order, the case was on against the convict/accused after a complaint was lodged against him by family members of the minor victim before Women Police Station Imphal East on September 30, 2015 stating that on August 29, the same year at around 1 pm the victim was sexually assaulted by the convict after calling her inside his house.
The matter came to light in the evening when the victim complaint of pain in her intimate parts but the matter was not reported on time considering the social stigma the victim had to endure.
However, a complaint was lodged later and based on the same, the accused was arrested by Imphal East women police from his residence at around 5 pm of September 3, 2015 After investigation the charge sheet was submitted by the IO of the case on December 28, 2015 before the Special Court POCSO Imphal East under section 4 of POCSO Act on finding prima facie material against the accused.
The charge was framed on January 17, 2017 but the convict/accused denied having committed the offence and demanded a trial.
During the trial the prosecution produced 10 witnesses in order to prove their case.
Convict/accused also produced 2 defence witnesses in his defence before the Court after which the final hearing was held before the Court on October 3 and October 10 this year and during the final hearing Court heard the submission of PP M Bishambhor and defence counsel Ph Bhageshwari at length before the order was kept reserved After hearing the submission of both parties, the Court convicted the accused under section 4 of POCSO Act and fixed 2 November for the sentence hearing of the case.