HC upholds cheat’s 2-yr sentence

The Bombay High Court refused to interfere with a two-year jail sentence awarded to a schoolteacher for duping at least 17 jobseekers.

The Bombay High Court refused to interfere with a two-year jail sentence awarded to a schoolteacher for duping at least 17 jobseekers.

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A single judge bench of Justice B.R. Gavai upheld the sentence awarded to the teacher, Willina Sequeira, saying relief could not be granted to people who cheat jobseekers.

Public Prosecutor R.V. Newton strongly opposed the plea to reduce the sentence, saying it would set a wrong precedent since the teacher appeared to be a habitual cheater.

She also pointed out that although Sequeira was convicted for cheating one person, she had in fact cheated many others.

The complainant Joslin Fernandes had paid Sequeira Rs 50,000 for a job in the Gulf in 2002.