Man gets 20 yrs RI for sexual assault

By Our Staff Reporter
Imphal, Nov, 29 :  RK Memcha, Special Judge of Fast Track Special Court no 1, Manipur has sentenced a 46-year-old Khaidem Bisembor alias Suresh Meitei to  20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2019, today.
He was convicted by the same Court the previous day under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012.
According to the FIR lodged by the victim’s mother on October 12, 2019, the convict took the minor victim and her friend to an under-construction house around noon on the same day and committed the heinous crime of aggravated sexual assault on the child, who was just 7 years old at the time.
Convict Bisembor, son of K Ranjit Meitei, resident of Nongdam Maning Leikai, was produced from Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa, for the sentencing hearing.
Special Public Prosecutor A Nilachandra urged the Court to award the maximum punishment, stating that the convict had committed a brutal crime against a minor child without showing any mercy, and exemplary punishment was necessary to send a strong message to society.
The defence counsel pleaded for leniency, submitting that the convict is married with two children (one son and one daughter), and he is the sole breadwinner doing labour work.
It was further submitted that he has no previous criminal record and has already undergone custody for  1 year, 11 months and 23 days (October 15, 2019 to October 8, 2021).
After hearing both sides, Special Judge RK Memcha observed that the convict committed the offence despite being married and having an ailing wife.
The Court then sentenced the convict to one year rigorous imprisonment under Section 417 IPC  and  another 20 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 6 of POCSO Act, 2012  
Both sentences shall run concurrently, the Court ruled.
The convict was also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh, in default of which he shall undergo an additional four months of simple imprisonment.
The Court directed that the period already spent in custody (1 year, 11 months, 23 days) by the convict be  set off.
The Court further directed the State Government to pay Rs 1.5 lakh  as compensation to the minor victim from the Victim Compensation Fund or any other Government scheme within one month. The amount is to be kept in a fixed deposit or secured in a manner that prevents misappropriation.