Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)
Karkala, May 28: The court here has sentenced four persons for posing life threats to businessman Leo Pereira who had been kidnapped and later returned home unscathed in 2010.
File Photos
As per a complaint filed with the police, accused Bharat Shetty, Dharmendra alias Dharma, Prashant Poojary, and Ummer alias Ummarabba, had threatened Leo Pereira, who runs a business in Miyar. It was alleged that the foursome had demanded payment of protection money of Rs 20 lac. They were arrested in 2011.
Leo's wife, Ida Pereira, had filed a complaint about this incident in the town police station here. The police had registered cases under sections 386 and 506 of Indian Penal Code.
The court, after hearing the case, found the accused guilty of offences mentioned in the charge sheet under section 386, and sentenced them to 18 months of jail term and imposed fine of Rs 3,000 each. In case of failure to pay fine, they have been ordered to undergo additional six months of imprisonment. Under section 506, they have been sentenced to one year of jail term apart from fine of Rs 5,000. Failing payment of fine, they will have to spend four months inside jail.
The judgment was passed by chief civil judge of the court and taluk legal services committee member secretary, Poornima N Pai.
Judgement related to extortion and abduction charges is still awaited.
Four abductors, who spoke Tulu, intercepted him near the Attur arch on March 22, 2010 and took him via Kuntady Road and Ranganapalke in his car. He was taken to a deserted farm in Shivamogga, and kept in the car itself till he was released. When some of the locals approached the abductors and questioned them about Leo, they told them that Leo has to pay them money. The gang behaved well with Leo, and did not give him any trouble. They reportedly told Leo that they had nothing against him, that they were not professional kidnappers, and also that they were working under the instructions of a third party. They soon released him and even apologized for their act.
From archives: