By Roy Denish.
Vavuniya child abuse case ends with an 81-year-old grandfather receiving 15 years in prison and a Rs. 1 million compensation order.
An 81-year-old man has received a 15-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a Vavuniya child abuse case involving his 12-year-old granddaughter.
Vavuniya High Court Judge A.A. Anandarajah imposed the sentence after finding the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The abuse took place in September 2020 in Veherathenna, within the Bogaswewa Police Division.
The man was 76 at the time of the offence. Prosecutors filed the indictment in 2024, after which the High Court conducted hearings in the case.
Vavuniya Child Abuse Case: Court Rejects Plea for Leniency
During the trial, the defence sought leniency because the accused is now 81 years old. However, the court rejected that argument when determining punishment.
The court stressed that the offender was the victim’s grandfather and therefore a natural guardian. It also found that the abuse caused severe psychological trauma to the girl and disrupted her education.
After the prosecution proved the charges, the court imposed 15 years of rigorous imprisonment. It also ordered the accused to pay a Rs. 50,000 fine. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional one-year prison term.
The court further ordered him to pay Rs. 1,000,000 in compensation to the victim. If he fails to pay that amount, he faces another two years of imprisonment.
State Counsel Sri. Sivaskanthasri led the prosecution on behalf of the Attorney General’s Department. The prosecution established the Vavuniya child abuse case through witness testimony and documentary evidence.
