Kerala court sentences ambulance driver to life imprisonment for raping COVID-19 patient in transit

A Kerala court on Friday sentenced an ambulance driver to life imprisonment for raping a 19-year-old woman while she was being transported to a COVID-19 care centre in September 2020 [State of Kerala (Police) v Noufal V]..District and Sessions Judge N Harikumar pronounced the sentence against Noufal V following his conviction under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act)..According to reports, the offence occurred in September 2020, when the survivor, who was then infected with COVID-19, was being taken from Adoor to a designated care facility.Noufal, who was driving a government ambulance, deviated from the assigned route and took the vehicle to a remote area where he sexually assaulted the patient.After the incident, the accused apologised to the survivor before proceeding to drop her at the centre.The survivor recorded his apology on video, which later became a vital piece of evidence.Upon arrival at the facility, the survivor informed health workers about the incident, leading to immediate police action.Based on her statement and the video recording, Noufal was arrested and charged with serious offences under IPC and SC/ST Act..He was subsequently found guilty under Sections 376 (punishment for rape), 354 (assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354B (assault with intent to disrobe), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code. The Court also found him guilty under Section 3(1)(w)(i) and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which deals with sexual offences against SC/ST women and prescribed enhanced punishment when such offences are committed by a person not belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Tribe.Following the conviction, the sessions court, Pathanamthitta, sentenced Noufal to life imprisonment.According to reports, the Court also directed him to pay a total fine of ₹1,08,000, which is to be given as compensation to the survivor..[Read Judgement]