The Mazgaon magistrate's court in Maharashtra convicted and sentenced a 19-year-old to two years of jail for outraging the modesty of a Peru woman.

Further, the Court also charged a fine of  Rs 5,000.

The court headed by Justice P I Mokashi held that the accused touched the woman inappropriately on multiple occasions.

"His crime tarnished the country's image and leniency will send the wrong message outside India."

During arguments on the quantum of punishment, the accused's lawyer had prayed for leniency considering his age. The lawyer said Riyaz was young and it was his first offence, he should be released on probation of good conduct.

The magistrate said the accused could not be shown leniency as the offences proved against him were against a foreigner. "He came into the room only to touch her. Now she's afraid to travel in India. His act has maligned the image of our country," the magistrate said.

The judgement, which became available on Saturday, held that "no such woman like the informant with good background and reputation and being a foreigner can come to the court merely to falsely implicate the accused without any reason unless such incident shall have taken place",

The accused worked as a manager at the guest house where the 38-year-old woman from Peru, on a solo trip to Mumbai, was staying in March this year. He kept visiting her room, insisted that she click selfies with him and touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions, she had alleged.

“Thereby this act of the accused has maligned the image of our country. If the accused is given benefit under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, the wrong message will be sent throughout the world,” the magistrate observed.