PHEK, SEPTEMBER 6 (MExN): The Court of the Special Judge, POSCO Act, Phek has sentenced a 76 year old man to 20 years rigorous imprisonment for the sexual assault of a minor girl.
A press release from the Special Public Prosecutor, POCSO Act, Phek, Samuel Ritse identified the accused as one Kuripra Veswuh, a retired Armed Branch Sub Inspector (ABSI), aged 76.
The judgment by the Court of Special Judge, POCSO Act, Phek, Mezivolu T Therieh, dated September 6, 2022 said that "...the victim girl aged about 5 years old who calls the accused Apotsa (grandfather), expected to show love and care and nurture her character and morality, became a prey to his lust.” “This ghastly act does not permit me to shown leniency,” the order stated.
It sentenced the accused for commission of penetrative sexual assault with rigorous Imprisonment for a term of 20 years and fine of Rs 5000. It also directed that in default of payment of fine, the accused shall further undergo simple imprisonment for a term of 1 year. Further, the Court sentenced the accused for commission of sexual assault upon the girl child victim for a period of rigorous Imprisonment of 3 year and a fine of Rs 1000 or in default of the payment of fine, simple Imprisonment of 6 months.
Also, for commission of outraging the modesty of the girl child victim, the Court sentenced the accused with imprisonment for a term of 6 months and fine of Rs 500 or in default of the payment of fine simple imprisonment of 1 month. For commission of sexual harassment upon the victim, the Court sentenced the accused to 6 months and fine of Rs 500 or in default of the payment of fine, simple imprisonment of 1 month. The jail sentences shall run concurrently and out of the total fine amount of Rs 7000, deposited by the accused, Rs 5000 shall be immediately paid to the victim.
In the judgment, the Special Judge, POCSO held that the "....prosecution is able to prove the foundational facts that the accused committed rape and penetrative sexual assault upon the victim girl and there is no iota of evidence from the defense side to explain that he had no culpable mental state...".
While pronouncing the sentence, the Special Judge held that "....it was therefore expected from the accused who is a father figure to the victim girl child that she should have been treated with love and care... Instead, the accused committed an unforgivable act of committing rape and aggravated penetrative sexual assault on her".
The judgment meanwhile applauded the State Government for granting a sum of Rs 4,00,000 on account of Victim Compensation Scheme sanctioned by the Home Department, Relief and Rehabilitation, Government of Nagaland as interim relief. The judgment also appreciated the timely action of Lucy Doungel, Unarmed Branch Inspector which helped the State Government in bringing justice to the vulnerable section of the society and strongly recommend the State Government to adequately reward the Investigation Officer for ably discharging her duties as a police officer in bringing the wrongdoer to justice.
The case was investigated by IO UBI Lucy Doungel, OC Women PS Phek and Samuel Ritse, Special Public Prosecutor, POCSO Act, Phek led the prosecution.
