10-year sentence affirmed for neighbour convicted in underage girl abuse case

Colombo, May 23 (Daily Mirror) - The Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed by the Ratnapura High Court on a neighbour convicted of committing grave sexual abuse against an underage girl.

Delivering the judgment, Court of Appeal Justices Sasi Mahendran and Amal Ranara dismissed the appeal filed by the accused, who had challenged the legality of the High Court ruling. The Court of Appeal held that the testimony of the victim was consistent and reliable, and found no reason to interfere with the findings of the trial court.

The accused had been indicted before the Ratnapura High Court under Section 365B(2)(b) of the Penal Code for offences of grave sexual abuse alleged to have been committed on or around January 7, 2015, in the Milavitiya area. Following trial, he was convicted on the first count and sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. He was also fined Rs. 10,000 and ordered to pay compensation of Rs. 150,000 to the victim.

Evidence led before the High Court revealed that the victim’s parents had separated, with her father not living with the family. The victim’s mother had supported the children financially by working at a workshop located opposite their residence. The accused, a neighbour, had reportedly maintained regular contact with the household.

On the day of the incident, the victim and her younger sister had been at home while their mother was at work. The accused is said to have visited the house and offered sweets to the younger child, asking her to go and play in the garden. He thereafter committed the offence, the court was informed.

With the Court of Appeal’s decision, the conviction and sentence imposed by the Ratnapura High Court stand affirmed.

Additional Solicitor General Shanaka Wijesinghe appeared for the Attorney General.