Panadura High Court judge Saman Kumara sentenced a man to 27 years of rigorous imprisonment today for abducting and drowning a 9-year-old girl in May 2022.
The judge also ordered the defendant to pay Rs. 3 million in compensation to the victim's mother.
Farooq Mohammad pleaded guilty to charges of abducting and killing the girl. According to court documents, he lured the child away from her home on May 27th, 2022, while returning home form a nearby shop. He then took her to a secluded area and attempted to abuse her. Panicked by her screams, he smothered her in the mud, causing her death.
Investigations revealed that Mohammad was a friend of the girl's father and frequently visited their home, which is why the girl readily accompanied him.
The judge, condemned the act as "heinous" and sentenced Mohammad to 20 years for abduction and 7 years for manslaughter, to be served consecutively. He also ordered an additional 6.5 years of imprisonment if the compensation is not paid within the stipulated timeframe.
