Phek, October 11 (MExN): The Special Judge POCSO, Phek on has sentenced a 25-year-old man to undergo 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).
The accused Kukuto Shijoh was convicted for “committing penetrative sexual assault” on an 11-year-old minor girl on December 13, 2022.
According to a press release from the Public Prosecutor, Phek Samuel Ritse informed that the accused reportedly committed the crime when victim along with her friends went to the jungle for collecting fire wood.
Later, the accused surrendered himself at Chozuba Women Police Station Phek and the case was investigated by UBI Lucy Doungel.
According to the judgment dated October 11, the accused was charged under Section 4(2) of POCSO Act 2012, amended in 2019, it added.
The Special Court also recommended Rs 1 lakh as victim compensation for the crime perpetuated against the minor victim as the incident had caused trauma and physical injury.
Meanwhile, the conviction order passed by the Special Judge, POCSO Neiko Akami stated that the prosecution has proved the “case beyond all reasonable doubt” that the accused committed the crime and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment under the Section 4(2) of POCSO Act.
A fine of Rs 1000 was also imposed on the accused, with further one-month simple imprisonment, if the payment is defaulted.
The Judge further held that for no fault on the part of the innocent minor victim, she had to “undergo physical pain and mental trauma and shame to her honour and her family due to the crime perpetuated by the present accused.”
Accordingly, the Judge recommended an amount of Rs 100000 to be paid to the her under the Victim Compensation Scheme 2012 as noticed by the State Government.
“Accused is apprise about his right to prefer an appeal against this Judgment and conviction order before the Hon'ble Gauhati High Court by way of jail appeal including through legal aid,” it added.
As per the Court’s record, while the incident was committed December 13, a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the crime was first registered on December 20 while the charge sheet was filed on March 27, 2023.
