Kochi, June 19 (PTI): A court here on Friday awarded 20 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) to four men for raping a girl near here nearly two years ago.
The Additional District and Sessions Judge P J Vincent sentenced them to 20 years each and also pay a fine of Rs 25,000.
The 16-year-old victim had committed suicide in September 2019 during the trial.
She had given a statement in the court in May that year.
According to the prosecution, the first accused Arun, after professing his love for the girl, took her on a bike to Fort Kochi beach where she was forcefully given liquor and drugs.
After sexually assaulting her at a place near the beach, she was taken to an apartment in Ernakulam and gang- raped on the night of October 13, 2018, the prosecution said.
