Man sentenced to 14 years RI for forcibly kissing minor girl
A man was sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined for forcibly kissing a minor girl in Thiruvananthapuram.Summary
A Fast Track Special POCSO Court in Thiruvananthapuram sentenced Basil Joseph alias Edison, 54, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹26,000 for forcibly kissing a minor girl on October 20, 2024. The accused lured the girl, a neighbor, under the pretext of asking her to fetch a flower pot and then coerced her into kissing him, refusing to let her go until she complied. The court ordered that the fine, along with compensation through the Legal Services Authority, be paid to the survivor. While the court awarded sentences under various sections, they will run concurrently, resulting in an effective imprisonment of five years, unless the fine is paid. The prosecution, led by Adv RS Vijay Mohan and Adv Surabhi P, examined 13 witnesses and presented substantial evidence, including 20 documents and 3 material objects, during the investigation conducted by Valiyathura Police Sub-Inspector Jayasree S.
(Source：Malayala Manorama)
