By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 7: The High Court of Meghalaya on Thursday granted partial relief to a person convicted by the Special Judge (POCSO), Shillong, and reduced his sentence from 18 years to 10 years.
The case dates back to November 3, 2017, when a woman filed a complaint at Sohiong police station accusing Rajingstar Thabah of committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault on her daughter aged about 5 years and 10 months and also threatening her with dire consequences.
Based on the complaint, FIR was registered against the accused under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, along with Section 376(2)(i) and Section 511/506 of IPC.
Following a trial, the Special Judge (POCSO), Shillong, convicted Thabah and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for a period of 18 years and to pay a fine of Rs 20,000 and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for another three months. The convict later approached the high court.
During the hearing on Thursday, the high court said that the conviction and sentence passed by the trial court dated July 8, 2022, and July 11, 2022, respectively is modified to the extent that the appellant shall undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years and to pay a fine of Rs 20,000 or in default to undergo simple imprisonment for another three months.
“As ordered by the trial court, the fine amount shall be disbursed to the victim girl, if not already paid,” the high court said while making it clear that the appellant shall be entitled for set off in accordance with Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for the period of detention already undergone by him.