<p>Robin Vadakkumchril.<br></p>

THALASSERY: Thalassery Pocso court has awarded a total of 60 years of rigorous imprisonment to former priest Robin Vadakkancheril alias Mathew Vadakkancheril for raping a minor girl from Kottiyoor in Kannur district.

The court found him guilty under Section 3(a) of Pocso read with section 4 of Pocso Act, section 5 (f) and 5 (j) ii, read with section 6 of Pocso, as also Section 376 (2) IPC and awarded 20 years each all these sections, said public prosecutor BP Saseendran and special public prosecutors Beena Kaliyath.

The imprisonment is for 20 years each in three counts and would run concurrently. The court has also slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The remaining 6 co-accused were acquitted.

The priest was accused of raping a minor girl in May 2016 at Neendunoki, near Kottiyoor, following which the girl delivered a baby at Christu Raj Hospital in Koothuparamba, run by the church, on February 7, 2017.

Though the newborn baby was shifted immediately to Holy Infant Mary’s Foundling Home at Vythiri in Wayanad, run by the church only.

The information was leaked and the Childline got an anonymous call, following which they conducted an enquiry.

Later, the police arrested him and the chargesheet was filed. During the trial, the victim and all the witnesses turned hostile. However, the prosecution proved this wrong by presenting the live birth record from the hospital, which proved she was minor at the time of sexual abuse, leading to the conviction.

Though a few doctors were named accused by police, they were later discharged by the Supreme court.

