A Mahila Court in Cuddalore on Tuesday convicted and sentenced a 26-year-old man to 20 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The court also sentenced the accused to undergo seven years imprisonment under Section 366 (kidnapping) of the Indian Penal Code. The sentences would run concurrently.

According to Special Public Prosecutor K. Selvipriya, the victim was in a relationship with Vijayendran, 18, of Virudhachalam working in a hosiery unit in Tirupur. The accused Satyamoorthy, 26, Vijayendran’s cousin who was also working there came to know about their relationship after reading the call details and messages on the latter’s phone.

The accused contacted the victim on her mobile phone and told her that Vijayendran was admitted in a hospital. He took the girl to Tirupur and confined her in a house, before raping her on March 11, 2017. He returned to Virudhachalam after the victim’s mother lodged a missing complaint with the Sethiathoppu police.

The police arrested Satyamoorthy and a case was registered against him under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The case came up for hearing in the Cuddalore Mahila Court on Tuesday. Judge D. Lingeshwaran also imposed fines of ₹5,000, for the offence under Section 366, and ₹10,000, under the POCSO Act.