HC awards 3 yrs RI to Alister Pereira in hit-and-run case

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today sentenced Alister Pereira to three years rigorous imprisonment for mowing down seven persons in 2006, enhancing the six-month jail term awarded to him by the lower court.

Pereira's car had run over seven construction workers and injured eight others on the night of November 12, 2006.

He was awarded a six-month prison term in the hit-and-run case under Section 304 (a) (causing death by negligence) and fined Rs five lakh on April 13 this year by a sessions court.

The division bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Ranjana Desai enhanced his sentence to three years under 304 (II) (if the act is done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death, but without any intention to cause death, or to cause such bodily injury as is likely to cause death).

He also has to pay a fine of Rs five lakh, the High Court directed.

"He doesn't deserve any sympathy," the judges said while Pereira stood in court and added that his bail application will be heard this afternoon.