Robbery accused escapes from court just before verdict

Coimbatore: A 38-year-old accused escaped from the principal sub-court premises in the city on Monday, just before the verdict was to be delivered in a 2013 robbery case.However, judge M Manbirajan sentenced the accused, Abudhakir, 38, to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in his absence.The court also issued a non-bailable warrant against Abudhakir. The crime branch police have formed a special team to arrest him.Ashik Ali, 35, and Gym Hakkim, 40, were also sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in the case while eight others were acquitted, and one died during the trial.The case pertains to a 12-member gang posing as officials from the Narcotics Intelligence Bureau (NIB)-CID and robbing a businessman of 1.5 lakh on December 12, 2013. The gang entered the office of ‘Sri Samunda Marketing’ on Range Gowder Street and made away with 1.5 lakh by threatening the owner, Mangalram, at knifepoint. The gang also took away four bundles of pan masalas worth 1.2lakh.The city police registered a case and arrested all the members of the gang. However, they were released on conditional bail. The investigation was later transferred to the Crime Branch-CID police, who filed a chargesheet before the court. The case was taken up for hearing before the principal sub-court on March 11, 2015. Additional public prosecutor P Krishnamoorthy appeared on behalf of the prosecution and all the 11 accused appeared before the court on Monday, except Abudhakir.
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