Idukki (Kerala) | A Kerala court on Tuesday sentenced a man to a total of 24 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl in 2024.

Idukki Fast Track Special Court (POCSO) judge Nodel D S sentenced the 44-year-old man to varying jail terms for offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Shijo Mon Joseph said.

The convict, Rajesh, will serve 20 years as it is the highest jail term he got and the varying sentences have to be served concurrently, the SPP said.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 2.20 lakh on the convict, a neighbour of the victim, he added.

The incident occurred in 2024 when the girl was left at Rajesh's home with his daughter while he, his wife and the child's mother went to pluck tea leaves, the prosecutor said.

Rajesh returned home amidst work and found his daughter asleep and at that time sexually assaulted the girl, the SPP said.

Subsequently, the child told her parents and they lodged a complaint with the police, he said.

The court said that if the fine is paid by the convict, the amount be given to the victim.

It also recommended the District Legal Services Authority to provide adequate compensation to the victim, the prosecutor said.