Prime accused gets 18 years RI in sex scandal case

A court here today awarded 18 years rigorous imprisonment to a woman, the prime accused in the Poovarani sex scandal case in which a minor girl was sexually abused for several months.
Additional District and Sessions Court-1 (Special) Judge K Babu also sentenced the second and third accused to a total of 22 years RI on different counts.
The judge convicted all six accused in the case related to the sexual exploitation of the minor girl for several months during 2007-08. The girl had later succumbed to AIDS-related complications.
Pronouncing the verdict, the judge sentenced Lissy, the first accused and the girl's aunty, to seven years RI each under IPC section 366 (a) (procuration of minor girl) and 372 (selling minor for purposes of prostitution, etc) and four years RI under 120(B) (criminal conspiracy).

He also imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on her.
The second and third accused were awarded six years of RI each on three counts, including buying minor for purposes of prostitution, and four years RI for criminal conspiracy, adding to 22 years.

The judge slapped a fine of Rs 3.5 lakh each on the two convicts.
All the sentences would run concurrently.
The judge also awarded jail term for three other accused in the case.
According to the prosecution, Lissy had sexually exploited the girl, who was studying in a private school at Pala, by taking her to men in various places during 2007-08.

The girl later died at a medical college hospital while undergoing treatment for AIDS-related ailments.