A Sessions Court today sentenced two British nationals to six years' rigorous imprisonment for sexually abusing children of the shelter homes run by the them in Mumbai and in neighbouring Raigad district.
Besides Duncan Grant and Alan Waters, the court also sentenced William D'Souza, a local resident, to three years' rigorous imprisonment for abetment in sexually abusing children of shelter homes in Colaba, Cuffe Parade (Mumbai) and Murud Janjira in Raigad district.
The court also imposed a fine of 20,000 UK sterling pounds (Rs 15,80,000) each on Grant and Waters.
The fine amount would be used to rehabilitate the boys who were living in shelter homes, the court observed.
Waters and Grant were convicted under section 377 (having unnatural sex) along with other sections of IPC.
They were accused of sexual exploitation and assault by five minor boys, who were previously living in three shelter homes set up by Grant in 2001.
Both Grant and Waters had left the country when the case came to light. Waters was deported from USA in 2004 to India after Interpol issued red-corner notice against the the,m. Grant had shifted his base to Tanzania at this point.
Prosecution examined two of the four victim boys, fifth was already dropped from the case as he was not traceable, and argued that their testimonies were enough to prove the case and that the prosecution did not desire to examine the other two.
But in February this year, the other two boys who were dropped by prosecution as witnesses decided to testify on defence side.
They told the court that they were never sexually exploited and some persons who wanted to take over the shelter-homes had offered them money to frame Grant and Waters.
Prosecution examined seven witnesses while defence examined only two witnesses.
