Pathanamthitta: The accused in the case of the sexual assault of a COVID-positive woman inside an ambulance at Aranmula has been sentenced to life imprisonment. According to the verdict announced by the Pathanamthitta Principal Sessions Court on Friday, Noufal, a resident of Panayachira House, Keerikkad, Kayamkulam, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and fined ₹1.80 lakh.

The assault occurred on the night of 5 September 2020, while the woman was being taken to a hospital. Noufal, who was under judicial custody for four and a half years, was found guilty of multiple offences including sexual assault, abduction, illegal confinement, assault without a weapon, and atrocity against a Scheduled Caste individual.

During the ambulance journey from Pandalam to Adoor, Noufal diverted the route and assaulted the woman. Crucial evidence in the case included videos and audios recorded by the woman on her mobile phone. The very next day, police took Noufal into custody. He was charged under approximately six different legal provisions.

The woman, who had been staying at a relative’s house in Adoor, tested positive for COVID-19. In response, the Health Department had dispatched a 108 ambulance from Pandalam Primary Care Centre. Another woman who was to be taken to Kozhencherry COVID hospital was also in the vehicle, which departed from Adoor after 11 p.m.

Instead of dropping the woman off at Pandalam as intended, the ambulance continued towards Kozhencherry. After dropping the other patient, Noufal, who was also the driver, brought the woman to a deserted property near the Nalkkalikkal bridge in Aranmula and assaulted her. Upon reaching the COVID care centre in Pandalam, the woman informed the authorities, leading to Noufal’s arrest.

Noufal had previously been arrested in an attempted murder case. The protocol requiring a staff nurse to accompany a COVID patient in the ambulance was not followed in this instance, which led to widespread public outrage. After the assault, the accused apologised, and this was recorded by the woman on her phone. This audio, along with the ambulance’s GPS data, mobile phone tower location, and DNA evidence, proved critical in the trial.

The prosecution examined 55 witnesses, presented 83 documents, and submitted 12 material pieces of evidence. During the trial in July, the survivor fainted while testifying, right as the court was listening to the accused’s voice recording. District Public Prosecutor T. Harikrishnan appeared for the prosecution in the case.