India, May 23 -- The Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed by the Ratnapura High Court on a neighbour convicted of committing grave sexual abuse against an underage girl.

Delivering the judgment, Court of Appeal Justices Sasi Mahendran and Amal Ranara dismissed the appeal filed by the accused, who had challenged the legality of the High Court ruling. The Court of Appeal held that the testimony of the victim was consistent and reliable, and found no reason to interfere with the findings of the trial court.

The accused had been indicted before the Ratnapura High Court under Section 365B(2)(b) of the Penal Code for offences of grave sexual abuse alleged to have been committed on or around Ja...