The Colombo High Court today sentenced a mother to seven years of rigorous imprisonment after finding her guilty of attempting to sell her two-day-old infant for Rs. 75,000.
Delivering the verdict, High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 20,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
The case revealed that the woman, along with her husband, had lured another woman to an illegal abortion center they operated, with the intention of selling the newborn after delivery.
The baby was ultimately sold to a female police sergeant from the National Child and Women’s Bureau, who was working undercover as part of a sting operation.
The woman was arrested at the scene by law enforcement officers.
In his ruling, the judge emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating that the act committed by the mother of three was deeply disturbing and shook the conscience of humanity. He further noted that such offenses could not be met with leniency.
“Every child deserves equal protection under the law,” the judge declared, stressing that the punishment must reflect the seriousness of the offense.
The court also ordered that the woman’s fingerprints be recorded as part of the sentencing procedure.
(News1st)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)
