Kochi: The Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court on Friday acquitted six persons accused in the sensational Mattannoor sex scandal case citing lack of evidence. According to prosecution, a minor girl belonging to Mattannoor in Kannur district was brought to Kochi city in 2009 by the accused with the promise offering roles in films and then used for sex trade involving several persons.
The court acquitted Soja James hailing from Muvattupuzha, Deepak alias Deepu of Potakuzhy, James, husband of Soja, Siraj, driver of Soja, Biju of Palarivattom and Ansar of Vazhakala. Beeran another accused in the case allegedly committed suicide during the course of trial.
The court criticized the manner in which the investigation was conducted in the case. It pointed out that the identification of Biju was not held and the victim identified him only when he was brought to the court. The victim also failed to identify another key accused James.
“The testimony of the victim in court with regard to identification of accused is totally unworthy of credit. The testimony cannot be trusted to prove the identity of the accused. The victim failed to identify the person who said to have ravished her life. No women normally would forget the person who deflowered her even taken that she was subjected to forcible sexual harassment many times," the court observed.
Earlier, both Soja and Deepu were convicted of selling the girl for sex work in five other cases. The girl and her parents had met Soja during a photo shooting session in Thrissur. Soja, by claiming that she could help the girl in getting roles in films, brought her to Kochi. She then allegedly “sold” her to various people with the help of Deepu. The racket was exposed when police arrested the girl for immoral trafficking during a raid at a hotel in September 2009.
