Life term for man for sexually assaulting 17-year-old niece

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The Mahila Court here on Tuesday sentenced a 44-year-old man to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his 17-year-old niece, a Class 12 student, and making her pregnant.

The accused, a resident of Bhavani taluk, is a widower and has two young sons. The survivor, the daughter of his elder brother, used to visit his house to look after his children.

According to the prosecution, the accused sexually assaulted the girl at his house on November 9, 2022 and several times later. The girl subsequently became pregnant. Based on a complaint lodged by the girl’s parents, the Bhavani All Women Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and arrested the man. The trial of the case was held before the Erode Mahila Court.

After the final hearing on Tuesday, Judge C. Sornakumar found the accused guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed on him a fine of ₹5,000. The court also ordered him to undergo an additional three months’ imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine.

The judge recommended that the State government provide ₹4 lakh as compensation to the girl, noting the physical and mental trauma she had suffered as a result of the sexual assault.

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