Karunagappally: A man accused in a POCSO case escaped from court premises minutes before he was due to be sentenced to a cumulative 23 years for abducting and sexually assaulting a minor girl from Assam, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday at the Fast Track Special Court complex in Karunagappally. Police identified the accused as 28-year-old Sirajul Haque, a native of Assam, who was out on bail at the time.

Haque had appeared in court that morning for the pronouncement of his sentence. After the court found him guilty of abducting the girl and sexually assaulting her two years ago, he was given time to confer with his lawyer before sentencing, public prosecutor Premchandran N C said.

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However, before the defence lawyer could meet him, Haque slipped away from the court premises. When the case was called again and Haque was not present, police immediately launched a search, but he could not be located.

A warrant has now been issued for his immediate arrest, the prosecutor added.

Haque had been sentenced to a total of 23 years’ imprisonment under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Since the maximum sentence under the POCSO Act is 20 years, that will be the period he serves in jail.