Varanasi: A German national, who was apprehended on charges of forgery and violating Indian visa regulations, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment by a court in Sonbhadra district on Monday. Additionally, the court imposed on him a fine of Rs 500.
The prosecution officer Satish Verma said chief judicial magistrate Alok Yadav pronounced the sentence to Holger Erik Misch, resident of Berlin. Misch had a confrontation with railway employee, Aman and assaulted him with a stick at Robertsganj railway station in Sonbhadra district in Nov 2017. An FIR was lodged against him under 14A Foreigners Act (for entry in restricted areas without valid documents), under sections 419 (cheating by personation) and 420 (fraud). The railway employee claimed that when he greeted Erik saying "welcome to India", the German struck him, though Erik contended he was assaulted by Aman.
Govt railway police apprehended him and transferred him to Robertsganj Kotwali police. On examining his passport and visa, authorities discovered that validity of the visa had been altered from Jan 24, 2017 to Jun 24, 2017. During questioning, Misch confessed to modifying the date by forgery. A case was registered under relevant sections and he was remanded to jail.
During the proceedings, the court examined evidence and testimonies of witnesses and admission of guilt by the German national and sentenced him to the duration he had already served in jail (14 months). He was released as he had completed the period of sentence in custody.