Kohima, May 4 (MExN): A special POCSO court in Kohima has convicted a man with 20 years in prison for raping his five-year-old stepdaughter, in their home in Kohima’s Para Medical Colony, on several occasions in 2019.
The Kohima Special Court (POCSO) sentenced the accused, Joseph Adivasi, to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5000 (in default to undergo simple imprisonment of one month).
The case was registered at Woman Police Station and was investigated by UBSI Tsuponi Tsukru of Woman PS, Kohima, according to a press release from the Public Prosecutor Kohima, T Marlemba.
According to the release, Special Judge Y Longkumer, while pronouncing the judgement in the open court on May 2, stated that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge under Section 376 (2) (3) of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 beyond reasonable doubt against Joseph Adivasi. The Court further observed that considering the nature and gravity of the offence, the provision of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 will not be made applicable in this case, it said.
“The accused was convicted and sentenced under Indian Penal Code as per the provision of Section 42 POCSO Act (Alternate Punishment) under the provision of which the Court can impose punishment greater in degree,” the release stated.
