Guwahati News Desk: The former chairman of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) Julius K Dorphang was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 158 lakh on Tuesday by a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Court at Nongpoh on Tuesday.
The former MLA from Mawhati of Meghalaya, Dorphang was charged in a rape case as he was arrested by Ri Bhoi Police on August 13.
The District and Sessions Court of Ri Bhoi convicted Dorphang under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for committing rape of a minor on December 15, 2016. The sentence was pronounced by Special Judge Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO), FS Sangma in Ri Bhoi district.
Earlier, the accused was charged of raping 14-year-old minor at the time he was serving as MLA. Dorphang was nabbed from ISBT Guwahati and was booked and lodged at the Nongpoh district jail. In the year 2020, Dorphang granted bail from Meghalaya High Court in 2020 on medical grounds but later he was again arrested by Meghalaya Police on August 13.