THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dr K Girish Kumar has been sentenced to 26 years in jail for sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy who approached him for psychiatric treatment. The special POCSO court also directed him to pay a fine of Rs 1,50,000 to the boy. The accused was an assistant professor in the health department.

Although the accused has been sentenced to 26 years imprisonment under four sections, he can serve the terms concurrently in seven years. POCSO court judge Sudharshan found Girish Kumar guilty in the case yesterday. He was earlier sentenced to six years in jail for a similar case a year ago.

The 13-year-old boy was sexually abused in the ‘The Practice, Practice to Perform’ private clinic close to Girish’s home. The abuse happened from 2015 to 2017 and he threatened the boy not to reveal this to anyone. The boy’s condition worsened and he revealed the abuse to doctors when he was admitted to the psychiatry department of medical college. He also used to show obscene videos on the phone to the boy.