70-year-old man sentenced to 20 years for sexual assault on 9-year-old

SHIVAMOGGA: A 70-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 2.1 lakh for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl by the additional district and sessions court here. If the convict fails to pay the fine, he will have to serve another year in prison.

The court also ordered that Rs 2 lakh from the fine amount levied on the convict and Rs 2 lakh from the government be given to the victim’s family as relief.

In 2023, the victim’s mother noticed that the girl had been sexually assaulted and lodged a complaint with the Holehonnur police who registered the case under the POCSO Act. Police inspector R L Lakshmipathi had filed the chargesheet after the investigation.