JUDGMENT

The accused in S.C. No.234 of 2013 on the files of the Special Court for the Trial of Offences Against Children (Additional Sessions Court-I), Manjeri, has preferred this appeal challenging the conviction and sentence imposed upon him as per judgment dated 30.01.2018. By the impugned judgment, the appellant was found guilty for having committed the offences under Section 9 (f) and 9(m) r/w Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act , 2012 (for short, ‘POCSO Act’), apart from Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code , 1860 (for short, ‘ IPC ’) and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act , 2000 (for short, ‘JJ Act’).

2. By the impugned judgment, the appellant has been sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of five years and to pay a fine of Rs.10,000/- for the offences under Sections 9 (f) and 9(m) of the POCSO Act, apart from imprisonment for two years for the offence under Section 354 of the IPC and for a period of six months under Section 23 of the JJ Act.

3. The prosecution alleged that on several days prior to

17.12.2012, the accused had sexually assaulted 18 minor girl students, all studying in the th