A 68-year-old school van driver was yesterday (18) sentenced to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court for the grave sexual abuse of a Grade 4 student inside his vehicle more than a decade ago.
High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwidha imposed the maximum punishment under the Penal Code, ordering the convict — a father of one — to also pay a Rs. 30,000 fine and Rs. 500,000 in compensation to the victim. Failure to pay will result in additional jail terms.
The Attorney General had indicted the driver under Sections 345 and 365(a) of the Penal Code for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor. The court found the prosecution proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Testimony revealed the child had been using the van service for nearly two years and was usually the last to be dropped home, which the driver exploited to commit repeated abuse after luring her with sweets. The offence came to light after the girl confided in a friend, prompting her mother to confront the driver and lodge a police complaint.
