A Christian priest in Kerala has been sentenced to forty years in prison for raping a minor by a district session’s court in Kerala.

Sanal K James, Salvation Army Group pastor for Peechi in Kerala’s Thissur district was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in April, 2014.

The Judge said that this should be lesson for all who commits similar crime.

The court has also asked state government to give Rs 3 lakh to the victim.

James was arrested on February 7, 2015 on charges Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Section 376 of IPC (Punishment for rape).

He was accused of sexually abusing two minor girls at their homes.

The incident came to light after one of the victims told her teacher during a student counselling programme at school.