A 26-year-old Indian national has been sentenced to 16 years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane for the rape of a university student in 2019. The court also took charges of abduction and theft into consideration when determining the sentence.
The incident occurred on May 4, 2019, when the perpetrator, who worked as a cleaner, stalked the university student as she walked to a bus stop late at night. He led her in the wrong direction, physically assaulted her, and then forcibly took her to a wooded area where he committed the heinous act of rape.
The victim sustained severe injuries, including facial bruising and other physical trauma, to the extent that even her then-boyfriend did not recognize her when he visited her in the hospital.
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The case took a considerable amount of time to reach its conclusion, approximately four years, due to the need for several rounds of psychiatric evaluation of the accused, who had mental health issues.
During the trial, it was revealed that the victim had tried to resist the assailant during the assault but was met with violence. The attacker tightened his grip on her throat, making it difficult for her to breathe. After the assault, he rummaged through her belongings, drinking from her water bottle and pouring the remaining water on her before leaving the scene.
The victim, fearing the assailant's return, kept a pair of scissors in her hand and managed to contact her boyfriend, who then called the police.
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The prosecution argued for a sentence of 15 to 17 years in jail and 16 to 18 strokes of the cane, emphasizing the extreme violence and premeditation of the crime.
The victim continues to suffer from psychological trauma, including nightmares, flashbacks, thoughts of suicide, and feelings of shame.
For the aggravated rape, the perpetrator could have faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
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