TIRUNELVELI: Tirunelveli Principal District Sessions Court has ordered child sexual abuse case accused Jonathan Robinson to return to India to execute the bail bond within two months.
Vallioor Judicial Magistrate Court, on April 13, had awarded a three-year sentence to the accused Jonathan Robinson and slapped a Rs 10,500 fine in a child sexual abuse case. Subsequently, Jonathan Robinson left the country. The petitioner’s counsel had filed a petition at the Tirunelveli District Principal Sessions Court under section 389 (1) CrPC, praying to suspend the sentences, which the prosecution’s counsel strongly opposed.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the trial court had already suspended the sentence and that the petitioner was now staying at Somerset, United Kingdom, and undergoing treatment for an ailment. The counsel filed an affidavit stating that Jonathan Robinson had been advised by the doctor not to travel to India since he was suffering from depression, hypertension and diabetics.
Public Prosecutor N Sivalingamuth filed a counter-objection stating that after conviction, the accused or petitioner had left the country and thereafter this appeal was filed in absentia.
After hearing both sides, Principal Sessions Judge K Rajasekar passed an order on Tuesday. In the order, the Judge said that the court was of the view that the reason for not returning to India because Jonathan Robinson had hypertension, depression, and diabetics was not a valid one.
The order added, “This petition is allowed, and the substantive sentences of imprisonment imposed on the petitioner/ appellant/ accused alone is suspended till the disposal of the appeal on condition that this petitioner/ appellant/ accused shall execute a bond for Rs 25 thousand with two sureties for the like sum each to the satisfaction of the Judicial Magistrate, Valliyoor. The petitioner shall return to India to comply with the above condition within a period of two months from the date of this order.”