DIMAPUR, MAY 29: The Court of Special Judge (POCSO), Tuensang, has sentenced a man described as a habitual offender and a sexual predator to 25 years of imprisonment ~ 20 rigorous and 5 simple ~ for kidnapping and raping a minor girl.
In a judgement passed on May 22, the POCSO Judge, Longshithung Ezung, ordered the accused person, Berimong Yim, to also pay a cumulative penalty of Rs 20,000.
According to the order, the crime was committed on April 8, 2022 at Shamator Town. After the family of the victim, aged 4 then, lodged an FIR with the police, the accused had absconded.
On April 20, 2021, he was however arrested at Dimapur and taken to Tuensang.
In his order, the Judge stated: “The convict has committed offence of sexual assault on a minor girl who is 5 years of age. It is also established by his own admission and also by the certified copy of the conviction order dated November 30, 2016, that the convict is a habitual offender and a sexual predator who has earlier served rigorous imprisonment for 5 years for committing sexual assault upon a child.
“Such a person is a threat to the society at large and to the safety and well-being of children. Considering the present facts and circumstances of the case and his previous conviction, the only punishment which shall serve the ends of justice shall be to sentence him to maximum punishment as per law”.
The Judge also ruled that an amount of Rs 1 lakh should be awarded to the victim from the Victim Compensation Scheme.
“Interim compensation, if any, already paid shall be deducted from the above final amount. The Secretary, Home (Relief and Rehabilitation), Government of Nagaland, shall take steps to sanction and release the awarded amount within 30 days from the receipt of the judgement and order”, it stated.
The Prosecution was led by Kenile Kent, Special Public Prosecutor, and the Investigation Officer of the case was ASI Chilliam.
(Page News Service)
