KANNUR: The Thalassery PoCSO court on Saturday awarded 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment to Fr Robin Vadakkumcherry, 51, who was found guilty of raping and impregnating a 16-year old girl in Kottiyoor, Kannur, in 2016.
PoCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court judge P.N. Vinod also imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh on him. However, the court acquitted six others — four nuns, a priest, and an employee of an orphanage - who faced charges of covering up the crime — for want of evidence.
Though the priest was awarded a total of 60 years’ imprisonment on various charges, he can serve the sentences together. Half of the fine amount should be given to the girl. The court also directed to take action against the girl's parents for giving false statements. The girl as well as her parents had turned hostile during the trial.
The infamous case came to light after the victim gave birth to a baby boy at Koothuparamba Christuraja Hospital controlled by the same parish in December 2016. Fr Vadakkumcherry was Kottiyoor St. Sebastian's church vicar and Kottiyoor I.J.M. Higher Secondary School manager where the girl studied.
After the delivery, the girl and the new-born were shifted to an orphanage being run by the Mananthavady Archdiocese discreetly.
On the complaint of Childline, a case was registered by Peravoor police in February 2017. During interrogation, the girl's father admitted to raping the girl to save the priest. The girl also said the same. However, the priest admitted his crime on interrogation.
After the victim and parents turned hostile, the prosecution depended on the statement of the government doctor who said that the girl was a minor and that the sexual relationship, even if consensual, could be considered only as rape.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had freed three persons from the trial-- Sister Tessy, Sister Ancy Mathew and Dr Hyder Ali, all staff of Christuraja hospital. Seven accused, including the priest, faced the trial.
The PoCSO court acquitted the second accused Kottiyoor Palukachi native Thankamma, 54, sixth accused Sister Liz Maria, 35, seventh accused Sister Anita, 48, eighth accused Sister Ophelia, 73, ninth accused former chairman of Wayanad Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Fr. Thomas Joseph Therakam, 68, and tenth accused Sister Betty Jose, 71. The charges of conspiracy and attempt to forge documents levelled against them could not be proved. The prosecution said it will appeal against the acquittal of the six persons.
