DIMAPUR, AUGUST 25 (MExN): One person was sentenced to a year and three months of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,300 by the Special Judge, POSCO Act in Phek on August 16.
The accused, identified as one Founder Chung, was convicted for sexual harassment of a student, in whose school the former was employed as an Assistant Teacher. The incident occurred on November 12, 2014.
The prosecution alleged that Chung had called the victim to the school staffroom, pushed her inside the adjoining toilet and made inappropriate physical contact with his hand.
Five prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial including the Investigation Officer of the case. The trial judge after hearing both the prosecution and the defense councils found the accused to be guilty under section 354 A(I)(i) R/W 511 IPC and section 340 R/W 511 IPC.
Accordingly the trial court convicted the accused to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 1 year and 3 months and a fine of Rs. 2300 to be immediately paid to the victim by way of compensation. Leniency was prayed by the accused before the Special Judge which was refused.
It the judgment dated August 16, the Special Judge noted that “parents with lot of trust send their daughters to school believing that the teacher will not only educate but also protect them. But this trust of parents shatters when their daughters are sexually harassed by none other than a teacher of the school and that too in the toilet of staff room. The hands of the accused as teacher were meant to protect and ensure safety of the victim. He instead used his hands to sexually harass and abuse the victim, such act does not permit me to show leniency on him”.
