10-yr RI for rape convict
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 13 2024:
The court of Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Cour.t) for Crimes against Women, Manipur sentenced a man convicted of raping a woman in 2018, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
On Monday, accused Chongtham Dhurbajit (28) s/o Ch Syamsunder of Nagamapal Phougeishangbam Leikai was produced before the court for sentence hearing.
During the hearing, the Special PP 'submitted that the accused had been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman (Section 376 of IPC) and appealed to the court to award lifetime imprisonment with fine, to which the defence counsel argued that Dhurbajit was a young man when he committed the offence, had recently become a father and as such, prayed for a lenient sentence.
After listening to both the submissions, the court said that the accused has committed the most heinous crime.
However, considering that it is his first offence and the difficulties that would be faced by his family, the court sentenced Dhurbajit to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 417 and imposed a fine of Rs 5000.If he is unable to pay the fine, his jail term shall be extended by three months.
The fine amount is to be deposited to the court, which would then be awarded to the victim as compensation.
It further ordered commutation of the time the convict had spent in judicial custody from the total sentence period.
Additionally, the authority concerned is to provide befitting compensation to the rape survivor under the Manipur Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes, 2023 and a copy of the order should be forwarded to the member secretary of MASLSA.