Rape attempt: man gets 12-and-a-half-year jail term

The Additional Sessions Court here has sentenced a man to 12-and-a-half years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for attempting to rape a woman in 2017.

Additional Sessions Judge Shibu M.P. sentenced Arun Dev J. of Medical College, Pattom, to five years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting rape, five years of imprisonment for trespassing, two years of RI for assault or use of criminal force with the intent of outraging the modesty of a woman, and another six months for voluntarily causing hurt.

The judge also imposed a fine of ₹51,000 on the accused. In case of default of payment of fine, the accused would have to undergo further imprisonment.

The prosecution had argued that the accused, a driver, had been contacted by the husband of the woman in 2015 to take her to Ernakulam. However, the accused then started sending her obscene messages, calling and threatening to rape her, and following her home. He even forced her into an autorickshaw once and took her to a house near Medical College, threatened her, and then dropped her off.

In 2017, when the woman’s two children had gone out to play in the evening, the accused forcibly entered her house, slapped her, disrobed her, and attempted to rape her. However, as her children returned unexpectedly, the accused jumped over the compound wall and fled.

The accused contended that he had a consensual relationship with the woman and that they had stayed together on many occasions.

The prosecution, represented by special public prosecutor Ajith Prasad J.K., argued that there was no evidence before the court to substantiate the accused’s claims of a relationship with the woman.

After analysing the evidence, the Judge concluded that accused was guilty.

The sentences of imprisonment would run concurrently.

The Judge also ruled that if the fine amount was paid by the accused, ₹25,000 would be given to the woman as compensation.