The Kozhikode Second Additional Sessions Court here on Tuesday sentenced two persons to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in connection with a case of armed robbery at Koduvally in the district. A fine of Rs.80,000 each has also been slapped on them.
The judge Kauser Edappagath found the accused, Rashid aka Chandy Rashid and Palappadi Noorudeen Howlath, both hailing from Chavakkad, Thrissur, guilty of decamping with Rs.3.87 lakh after tying up Mohammed Ashraf, a jewellery owner, and two of his assistants at Koduvally eight years ago.
The accused were found guilty under sections 395 (dacoity) and 450 (house- trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) of the Indian Penal Code.
They were awarded five years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.50,000 each under section 395 and three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs.30,000 each under section 450 of the IPC.
However, the prison term will run concurrently.
The court also ordered that 50 per cent of the total penalty amount, if paid, should be given to the victims.
If the accused refused to remit the amount they should undergo an additional year in prison.
The incident took place at the house of Mohammed Ashraf early on February 4, 2006.
An armed gang had reached the house while Mr. Ashraf and his two assistants were counting the money. They then tied them up and decamped with the money. The Koduvally police arrested some of the accused the next day.
There were eight accused in the case. However, the court acquitted three persons as the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them.
Three other escaped during the course of investigation.
The court examined 19 witnesses, material objects and 24 documents.
