The Principal Sessions Court in Kerala's Pathanamthitta city on Friday awarded life imprisonment to 29-year-old ambulance driver Noufal who was found guilty of raping a 19-year-old patient while she was transported to a COvid care centre in 2020.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 1.08 lakh on the convicted driver.

The incident triggered a massive outrage in the southern state in 2020 when the country was battling the COVID-19 horror.

Noufal was a ntive of Kayamkulam.

According to the prosecution, Noufal, a driver with the state health department’s ambulance service, picked up a Dalit woman from her house and was assigned to admit her at a Covid treatment centre in the district, reported The Indian Express.

The driver diverted the ambulance to a deserted area and raped her.

The driver had reportedly apologised to the victim following the incident and asked her not to disclose it.

The woman had recorded his apology on her mobile phone, which was produced as evidence in the court, the newspaper reported.

The victim informed the incident to health officials after reaching the medical facility.

After the police was informed on the matter, Noufal was tracked and taken into custody.