KOZHIKODE: A court has sentenced Kottiyur sexual abuse case convict Fr Robin Vadakkanchery to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment. A fine of Rs 3 lakh was also levied on him. In the sensational Kottiyur case, Robinson had been accused of sexually abusing and impregnating a minor girl.

During the pronouncement of the order on Saturday, the court accepted all charges against him while it acquitted six other accused in the case, for want of proper evidence.

The order was delivered by Thalassery POCSO court.

According to the case, Robinson sexually abused and impregnated the girl who used to go to the church for learning computer. In total, there were ten accused in the case. Out of them, three had got exemption from the case. The rest seven accused had faced the trial.

Robinson has to undergo 20 years of Rigorous Imprisonment on three counts but he can undergo the punishment simultaneously. Out of Rs 3 lakh fine, Rs 1.5 lakh should be given to the victim.

The order was delivered by POCSO court judge P N Vinod. The court also instructed the police to take action against the father and mother of the girl for giving wrong witness accounts. The parents had turned hostile witnesses. At one point of time even her father came out to own up the crime while mother tried to establish that the girl was not a minor when she was sexually abused.

The court has let off six accused for want of evidence. But the government is likely to move court against this. It also directed the government to hand over the responsibility of the victim’s protection to Legal Service Authority.

The charges against other accused are that they hid the delivery of the minor girl and tried to protect and help Fr Robison.
The other accused were Dr Nelliyani Thankamma who assisted in the childbirth, gynaecologist at Christu Raj hospital in Kannur Dr Tessy, paediatrician Dr Hyderali, hospital administrator Ancy Mathew, Dr Liz Maria and Sr. Anita from Christu Dasi convent in Wayanad. Sr. Ophilia, the Superintendent of the Holy infant Mary orphanage at Wayanad where the baby was taken. Sr Ophilia had approached the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

While gynaecologists Dr Tessy and Dr Nellyali Thankamma allegedly agreed to deliver the baby, the hospital paediatrician - Dr Hyderali - had the baby discharged, following which Dr Nellayani, Dr Liz Maria and Sr. Anita from Christu Raj convent took the baby to Wayanad where they admitted the child to an orphanage.

Further investigation revealed that the accused had been protected by a network of Christian institutions who helped cover up the crime to save their own face. Police suspected this after facing ‘practical difficulties’ in arresting all the accused in the case.
Prior to surrendering before the Kannur police, four of the nuns who were accused of helping to cover up the incident had been absconding. They later surrendered before the police in March.

The trial started last August 1 at Thalassery POCSO court. The court had examined 54 witnesses, 80 documents and seven other evidence.