Published Feb 01, 2024 | 7:31 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 01, 2024 | 7:31 AM
Rape of minor (Creative Commons)
A court in Kerala has sentenced a 39-year-old man, who has been an AIDS patient since 2011, to three concurrent life imprisonments for sexually assaulting a minor boy four years ago in the Kollam district.
Punalur Fast Track Special Court judge Baiju TD sentenced the man to life term for each of the offences under Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the IPC and Sections 5(l) (penetrative sexual assault on the child more than once) and 5(m) (penetrative sexual assault on a child below 12 years) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Ajith KP said on Wednesday, 31 January.
However, as the sentences have to be served concurrently, the man will have to serve only one life term, SPP Ajith said.
The court also imposed a fine of ₹1.05 lakh on the convict, the prosecutor said.
The incident took place in August 2020 when the boy was alone at home, the SPP said. The accused used to work in the victim’s father’s shop and, therefore, was acquainted with the child, the prosecutor added.
On the day of the incident, the accused showed the child obscene videos and then sexually assaulted the boy several times.
It came to light when the boy was caught by his mother while watching obscene videos on his father’s mobile phone, the prosecutor said.
On being scolded for watching such videos, the child revealed what had happened to him and, thereafter, the parents informed the police, the SPP said.
The prosecutor also said that all tests of the child so far have turned negative for the presence of the AIDS virus.
However, one more test remains to be done, which can be carried out only after 2-3 years, to finally confirm there is no infection, the SPP added.
He also said that according to medical experts examined during the trial, the chance of the child getting infected was less as the accused was taking antiretroviral medication.
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