Team Herald
VASCO: The Fast Track Court, Panjim (POCSO), on Monday convicted and sentenced Mainuddin Pathan of New Vaddem, Vasco, to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment in a case of sexual exploitation and abuse.
Pathan was convicted under Sections 376 and 370 of the IPC and was sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 50,000. In default, he will serve an additional three months of rigorous imprisonment. Under Section 4 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1986, he was sentenced to two years in prison and fined Rs 1,000, with a default sentence of 15 days’ imprisonment. Under Section 5 of the same Act, he was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment, with a fine of Rs 2,000, or 15 days’ imprisonment in default. Additionally, under Section 7 of the Act, he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, and under Section 323 of the IPC, to one year’s rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1,000, or 15 days’ imprisonment in default. Under Section 506 of the IPC, he was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000, or 15 days’ imprisonment in default. All sentences will run concurrently, the court ruled.
Should the fines be realised on all counts, the total amount will be paid to the victim once the appeal period has passed. The detention period from November 14, 2019, to the present will be deducted from the total sentence.
In November 2019, following a complaint lodged by a young woman from Delhi, the Vasco police arrested the accused. The victim, who had come to Goa seeking better prospects, was initially offered shelter by Pathan. However, he later sexually exploited, assaulted, abused, and forced her into prostitution.
Fed up with the ongoing abuse, the victim managed to escape and sought help, eventually approaching the Vasco police. A case was immediately registered, and Pathan was arrested. The victim was later reunited with her family with the assistance of NGOs.
The case was investigated by the Vasco police under the supervision of DySP Nilesh Rane, with head constables Santosh Bhatkar and Sachin Bandekar, and constable Gauresh Satardekar playing key roles in the arrest and investigation.