68-year-old man sentenced to 60 years for sexual abuse of his brother’s preschool daughter

• This is not merely an offence against a child but an act that shocks the conscience of humanity- says Judge 
• Evidence revealed that the child was too young to fully understand what was happening   

By Bhagya Silva

The Colombo High Court Judge, R.S.S Sapuvida, sentenced a 68-year-old man to 60 years of rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty of sexually abusing his brother’s preschool daughter over a period of more than two months.   

The High Court Judge imposed an additional fine of Rs. 30,000 on the accused and also ordered him to pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to the victim.   

The judge emphasised the inhumanity and cruelty of the crime, saying, “This is not merely an offence against a child but an act that shocks the conscience of humanity.”   

Evidence revealed that the child, too young to fully understand what was happening, had once told her mother, “Amma, don’t let that ‘holman bappa’ come to our house again,” a statement later confirmed through witness testimony.   

The prosecution revealed that the accused had entered the child’s home and also lured the child to his own residence during times when no one was present and committed the offence. Thereafter, he had threatened the child, warning her not to disclose the incident to anyone and that if she did, it would happen again. As a result of this intimidation, the child had been subjected to repeated abuse over a period of time.   

Considering all the evidence, the High Court Judge held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.