Accused awarded life sentence for sexually abusing Covid patient in ambulance

PATHANAMTHITTA: The court awarded life sentence to the accused for sexually abusing a 19-year-old Covid patient in an ambulance. The Pathanamthitta court sentenced Naufal of Kayamkulam to life imprisonment. The incident happened on September 5, 2020. In addition to the life imprisonment, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 1,08,000.
Pathanamthitta Additional SP R Binu said the court has issued the sentence in six sections and a very complex investigation was carried out during the Covid period and the charge sheet was filed in a time-bound manner.

Naufal raped the woman while she was being taken to the Covid center in Pandalam from Adoor. There was another woman in the ambulance while the girl was collected from her house after being tested Covid positive. But she was dropped on the way. Then he took the ambulance to an isolated ground near Aaranmula and sexually assaulted the girl. Video footage of the accused tendering an apology to the victim was recorded on the victim's mobile phone.

A DNA test showed that she was raped. He has also been charged with rape and kidnapping. He has been in pretrial detention for four and a half years and has previously been accused in an attempt to murder case.