3 persons, including two British nationals, convicted of child abuse

Mumbai, Mar 18 (UNI) A sessions court here today convicted three people including two British nationals and sentenced them to six years impriosnment in the child exploitation case at shelter homes in South Mumbai in 2001.

Pronoucing the judgement, Additional Sessions Judge P S Paranjpe said the accused were found guilty of sexual abuse of the children at the shelter homes of Colaba, Cuffe Parade and Murud Janjira in Raigard district.

The court held the two British nationals -- Duncan Alexander Grant (62) and Allen Waters (58) -- guilty under section 377 (unnatural sex), 373 (buying minors for purpose of prostitution), 120 (B) Conspiracy and Section 23 of the Juvenile Act and sentenced them to six years rigorous imprisonment (RI).

The third accused -- William D'souza -- was sententeced to a maximum of three years RI and a fine of Rs 6,500.

However, he was not present in the court when the judgement was pronounced.

The court also directed Grant and Waters to pay a compensation of 20,000 pounds each for rehabilitation of shelter home's children.

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