Thodupuzha: The First Additional Sessions Court (POCSO) in Thodupuzha on Wednesday sentenced a 42-year-old man from Edanad Purayidam to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually abusing a minor girl in Kumaramangalam. Judge Ash K Bal also imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 on the accused.
Case Background
This is the second of 28 cases registered in connection with the sexual assault of the minor by multiple persons between 2017 and 2022. The court also directed the authorities to pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to the survivor. The incident for which the accused was sentenced occurred in March and April 2021 at the shop where the minor girl was employed. The accused, who was the manager of the establishment, assaulted her inside the staff room and threatened her.
Investigation and Trial
According to police, the girl was allegedly taken to various places with the assistance of relatives and intermediaries and sexually abused by multiple persons. The abuse came to light after the survivor became pregnant. The case was investigated by Thodupuzha inspector V C Vishnukumar. During the trial, the prosecution examined 27 witnesses and produced 47 documents before the court. Advocate Payas Mathew appeared for the prosecution.
Police said charge sheets have been filed in all 28 cases connected to the abuse, and trial proceedings in the remaining cases are under way.
