A 62-year-old man, Kuttapan of Piravom, was awarded 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 by a court here on Saturday for raping a 5-year-old girl at Piravom.
The sentence was awarded by the Ernakulam Additional District Session Court (Atrocities and Sexual Violence against Women and Children). The Special Court, while rejecting the plea of the accused for pardon, observed that the circumstances of the case, especially the tender age of the victim did not provide room for showing any leniency to the accused. The accused had been charged with offences punishable under Section 376 (2) (f) (rape when the victim is under 12 years of age) and Section 377 (Unnatural offences or rape) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court was of the view that considering the nature of the offence committed, the age of the accused, age of the victim and other circumstances of the case, a substantive sentence of 10-year rigorous imprisonment be awarded to the accused.
