Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Jan 11: The sixth additional district and sessions court sentenced Brian Richard Ammanna (34), a resident of Light House Hill Road, Hampankatta, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for sexually harassing a girl during a party.
The victim was a friend of Joyline Glanel Pinto, an Indian Navy employee. A farewell party was organized for Joyline, who was transferred to the Andaman Islands, at the residence of Akash K S in Kodikadu under Kodippadi village, Puttur, on February 5, 2021. The victim attended the party, arriving from Mangaluru with her friend, Niket Shetty.
Brian Ammanna, who had arranged catering for the event and introduced himself as a friend of Joyline, allegedly spiked the victim’s drink. After the party, Joyline and another friend, Rebecca, showed the victim to a room where she could stay overnight. The victim, Joyline, and Rebecca talked briefly before retiring to bed.
At around 2 am, the victim woke to find Joyline and Rebecca absent from the room. She went back to sleep but woke again at 5 am, discovering she had been sexually harassed by Brian during the intervening hours.
A case was registered against Brian Ammanna at the Puttur women police station. The investigation was carried out by the then-inspector Timmappa Naika, who subsequently filed a chargesheet.
Justice Kantaraju SV, who presided over the trial, found Brian guilty and handed down the 10-year sentence along with the fine. The court also directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide suitable compensation to the victim.
Witness testimonies were partially handled by public prosecutor B Shekhara Shetty, with the remainder completed by public prosecutor Chowdhury Motilal.