The Additional District and Sessions Court, Thalassery, which is the designated court for the cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, on Saturday awarded 20-year rigorous imprisonment to former priest Robin Vadakkumcheril in a case of rape of a minor girl from Kottiyur in the district.
The court found Vadakkumcheril guilty under Section 3(a) of the POCSO Act read with Section 4 of the Act, Section 5 (f) and 5 (j) ii, read with Section 6 of Act, and also Section 376 (2) of the Indian Penal Code.
He was awarded rigorous imprisonment for 20 years each under all these three counts. All the three sentences should run concurrently. The court also ordered him to pay a fine of ₹4 lakh.
The court acquitted six other accused in the case citing lack of evidence.
The acquitted were parish member Thankamma Nelliyani, Sr. Lis Mariya of Christhudas Convent at Mananthavady, Sr. Aneeta of Kallumutti Convent, former chairman of the child welfare committee of Wayanad Fr. Thomas Joseph Therakam, member Sr. Betty Jose, and Sr. Ophelia, superintendent of Holy Infant Mary Mandir at Vaithiri, Wayanad.
Last year, the Supreme Court had discharged three other accused, including gynaecologist at Christu Raj Hospital Tessy Jose, hospital administrator Ancy Mathew, and paediatrician Hyderali.
The case was that Robin Vadakkumcheril, 48, former priest of St. Sebastian Church, Neendunoki, near Kottiyoor, raped a minor girl in May 2016 and impregnated her.
She delivered a baby at the church-run Christu Raj Hospital, Koothuparamba, on February 7, 2017. Vadakkumcheril had been defrocked following his arrest in February 2017.
Notice to parents
Prosecution said there were 38 witnesses, the majority of whom, including the victim and her parents, turned hostile. The greatest challenge for the prosecution was to prove the age of the victim as she claimed that she was major at the time of the incident. The prosecution had proved that she was minor by presenting the birth record from hospital.
The court also directed that notices be served on the victim’s parents for turning hostile in the case.
Published - February 16, 2019 11:43 pm IST
