Daijiworld Media Network - Thrissur
Thrissur, May 12: A pastor who is already in jail serving 40 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor, has now been sentenced to life until death by the Thrissur special court.
The court on Friday May 12 sentenced Sanil K James, a pastor who was in the Salvation Army Church, to life in jail for raping a 13-year-old girl multiple times since 2014.
Pastor James is currently lodged at the Viyyur Central Jail.
In March 2016, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Harassment (POCSO) Act, James was convicted of raping a 12-year-old during December 2013.
In the second case, the the pastor raped the 13-year-old girl several times over a period of three years from 2013 to 2016. The girl, who initially was too frightened to speak about the matter, finally confided in her teacher, who in turn alerted a child helpline. The child welfare committee informed the police and a case was filed.
The pastor was arrested and medical report of the girl confirmed the rape.
The POCSO court heard the case in the presence of the victim, who was enclosed in a specially arranged box that hid her from view. There 32 witnesses, 16 documents and four items of material evidence. Public prosecutor Pious Mathew fought the case on behalf of the victim.