Six get rigorous imprisonment in Poovarani sex scandal

Kottayam: The additional district sessions court here on Friday sentenced Lizy, the prime accused in the Poovarani sex scandal case, to seven-year  rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 4 lakh, and  five other accused to rigorous jail terms varying from  four to six years  and a fine of Rs 1 lakh  to Rs 25,000 each.

Though judge K. Babu awarded  25 years'  RI  to Lizy on various counts, she has  to undergo the term  concurrently only for seven years.     The second, third and fifth accused-- Jomini of Theekoy, Jyothish of Poonjar and Satheesh Kumar of Thrikkaruva in Kollam respectively- were awarded six years’  RI and a fine of Rs 1 lakh each.  The fourth and sixth accused-- Thankamany of Poonjar Thekkekara and Rakhi of Parakattu in Thrissur- were sentenced to four  years’  RI and a fine of Rs 25,000.

On Thursday, the court had found the  six accused  guilty of procuring, selling and purchasing the minor girl for prostitution  and  criminal conspiracy. The court acquitted six other accused after the prosecution failed to prove the rape charges since the victim is no more.   The tenth accused Ullas committed suicide during the trial.

The prosecution case was that  the 8th standard student of a school in Pala was lured into flesh trade by Lizy, her relative,  from  August 2007 to May 2008.   The girl died of AIDS in the Theni government medical college hospital on May 5, 2008.