Idukki (Kerala) | A 26-year-old man was on Friday sentenced to a cumulative 34 years of imprisonment by a Kerala court for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl at her residence in Idukki two years ago when no one else was at home.

Idukki Fast Track Court Judge Nobel D S sentenced the man to a total of 34 years in prison under various provisions of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 2.7 lakh on him, Special Public Prosecutor Shijomon Joseph said.

The SPP said that the convict would have to serve only 20 years in jail, as that was the highest punishment awarded to him, and all the sentences are to run concurrently.

The court ordered that the fine amount, if recovered from the convict, be given to the victim.

In addition, it recommended that the District Legal Services Authority provide adequate compensation to the girl.

The SPP said that the convict was the victim’s neighbour and had a close relationship with her family.

The incident occurred in 2024 when, in the absence of her parents, the convict entered her home and sexually assaulted her after she returned from school, the prosecutor said.

The defence lawyers had argued that the girl’s mother forced her to give a statement against the convict in order to end his friendship with her husband, the SPP said.

However, the court did not accept that contention, the prosecutor added.

The SPP said that 16 witnesses were examined and 23 documents were presented before the court by the prosecution in support of the case.