Former MLA of Mawhati and surrendered HNLC leader, Julius K Dorphang was today sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for rape of a minor.
Dorphang has been sentenced under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by the POSCO Court at Nongpoh for rape on a minor on December 15, 2016, along with a fine of Rs 15 lakh.
The legal representative of Dorphang, Kishore Ch. Gautam said they will file an appeal against the sentence in the High Court by next week.
“We will be filing an appeal and will also be praying for suspension of the sentence,” Gautam said.
The lawyer informed that in a criminal appeal, a prayer for suspension of the sentence is also needed since the appeal will take a long time.
“…so that he can come out on bail. Since he has a medical condition,” he added.
It may be mentioned that Dorphang was sentenced with regards to the FIR filed at Ri-Bhoi on January 5, 2017, while there was another FIR filed in Shillong in December, 2016 in connection with the same case, whose trial is still on before the Special Judge (POCSO) at Jowai.
“Both the cases should have been investigated from one place. The law is very clear you do not need to have two different FIRs for a similar offence,” Dorphang’s lawyer said.
