Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goa Children’s Court, Panjim has sentenced a 39-year-old man from Deulwada-Hankhane, Pernem to undergo 20 years rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh or in default to default to under simple imprisonment for five years for raping twin minor sisters.
The Court also convicted him under Section 8 (2) of Goa Children’s Act and sentenced the man to undergo 10 years rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs 2 lakh or in default to undergo simple imprisonment for two years.
Further the Court convicted him Under Section 5 (1) and (m) of POCSO Act, and sentenced him to undergo 20 years RI and to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh or in default to undergo 5 years SI. Further the Court held him guilty under section 9 (1) and (m) of POCSO Act and directed him to undergo 10 years RI and to pay a fine of Rs 2 lakh or in default to undergo two years SI.
All the sentences will run concurrently, the Goa Children’s Court President Saee A Prabhudessai said.
Also the period of custody shall be set off against the term of substantial imprisonment imposed on the accused Under Section 428 of IPC. The fine amount if any, recovered from the accused shall be deposited in the name of the victims equally in fixed deposit in any nationalised bank till they attain majority.
The incident occurred in April 2019 when the accused sexually exploited twin minor daughters, aged four years.
The prosecution examined 11 witnesses in support of its case. During trial, the accused stated that a false case had been filed against him by the complaint as she was having grudge against him and his wife. The accused also examined witnesses in defence.
The case was investigated and chargesheeted by then PSI Alvito Assiz Rodrigues. Adv K Raikar argued on behalf of the accused and public prosecutor T Narvekar represented the State.