45 year imprisonment for sexual abuse of daughter

By D.G.Sugathapala 

An accused who stood indicted with sexually abusing his eight-year-old daughter was found guilty and sentenced to 45 year imprisonment and fined Rs. 10.000 by Galle High Court Judge Purnima Paranagama. 

He was ordered to pay Rs.500,000 as compensation to the victim and sentenced to a further four-year imprisonment in default of the fine and six months imprisonment in default of the compensation payment. 

During the trial, it transpired that his wife had gone abroad for employment, leaving the daughter, the only child in the family, to his care. The accused had caused grave sexual abuse to his daughter three times for one year from June 2006 to June 2007. 

Police had initiated investigations on an anonymous letter in this regard received by the Child Rights Protection Officer in the Divisional Secretariat. 

State Counsel Shirantha Palugaswewa prosecuted with PC 10356 Kodituwakku of Udugama Police as a prosecution witness.