The Colombo High Court has sentenced a monk to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a mentally challenged girl under the guise of providing medical treatment.
In sentencing the accused for the incident that took place five years ago, Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli issued several strict orders against the accused.
In addition to the prescribed sentence, the judge ordered the victim to pay a compensation of Rs. 500,000 to the victim, and if the compensation is not paid, the accused will be sentenced to an additional 5 years in prison at the rate of one year for every 100,000 rupees not paid.
The accused was charged with aggravated sexual abuse under Section 365 (b) of the Penal Code, as amended by Act No. 22 of 1995 and Act No. 16 of 2006.
The accused, who gave evidence in response to the charge, stated that the application of oil on the body was a part of medical treatment. However, it has been established before the court that the suspect monk had committed this crime by touching and rubbing the genital area of the girl unnecessarily for his own sexual gratification.
The forensic medical evidence presented also confirmed that the girl had been severely abused.
The girl in question had initially sought treatment at the Angoda Mental Health Institute, but her grandmother, who thought that the treatment there was delayed, had referred the girl to this ashram seeking quick relief.
The investigation began following a complaint filed by the girl’s father with the National Child Protection Authority.
While pronouncing the sentence, the High Court judge emphasized that running an ashram in an area where low-income people live and abusing helpless people who come to him seeking relief in this way is a heinous crime that society does not expect from a religious leader.