JUDGMENT AND ORDER

This Criminal appeal under Section 374 (2) Cr.P.C is filed against the Judgment and order of conviction dated 18-05-2022 and sentence of even date passed by the learned Special Judge (POCSO)/ Addl D.C(J), East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat in POCSO Case No. 8/2020 (new), [Spl Session No.18/19 (old)] whereby the accused/appellant was convicted under Section 3(a)/4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) and awarded a sentence of 7 (seven) years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand rupees) only and in default to undergo one month’s simple imprisonment.

The fact of the case is that on 19-08-2018 a written FIR was lodged by the complainant to the effect that on the midnight of 17-08- 2018, her son, aged about 10 years, was sexually assaulted by the accused/appellant who came to stay in her house as he was well known to her husband. The FIR was received vide GDE No. 24 dated 19-08-2018 at Ladrymbai Police Outpost. Thereafter the FIR was received at Khliehriat PS vide GDE No. 05 dated 19-08-2018 and a cognizable case was registered vide Khliehriat PS Case No. 153(8)2018 under Section 377 IPC read with Se