Transwoman convicted for raping 7-year-old boy in Kerala, held via Facebook messenger

In a first of such case in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram Fast Track Special Court on Monday convicted a transwoman for allegedly sexually abusing a seven-year-old boy.

Identified as Sachu Samson aka Shefina, 34, a transwoman, who hails from Anathalavattom near Chirayinkeezhu, has been sentenced seven years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 25,000 in the case of sexual assault with a 16-year-old minor boy.

Special Public Prosecutor RS Vijay Mohan, advocates M Mubeena and RY Akhilesh appeared for the prosecution and informed that the incident occurred on February 23 in 2016 when the accused met the victim who was coming to Thiruvananthpuram by train from Chiraynkeez.

The alleged transwoman took the child to Thambanoor Public Comfort Station and subjected him to unnatural sexual harassment. The prosecutors further said that the incident came to light when the victim’s mother came to know through Facebook Messenger.

Reportedly, the boy, who was afraid of torture, did not tell his family about the incident. As the accused called the child several times over the phone and asked to see him, the child refused.

“The mother noticed that the child was overusing his phone and was not picking a call. When the accused sent messages via Facebook, the messages were directed to the mother’s messenger. The mother came to know about the molestation. She immediately reached out to the police and further investigation was initiated,” Mr. Mohan said.

The transwoman was found guilty of the offences punishable under section 377 (unnatural offences) of the IPC and section 3(d) (penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.