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.
