A 52-year-old female scientist working with the ministry of environment, Canada, has filed a sexual assault complaint with the Chennai city police commissioner.

The complainant said she was victimised by her cousin, now 70 years old, when she was 10 years old and studying at a school in Anna Nagar here.

The woman said the exploitation had continued for over seven years. "I am submitting this complaint to record my angst. Though, my cousin had admitted to the wrongdoing, he continued to live without any remorse," she said.

Another cousin, who wished to remain anonymous, had said the same person too had abused her, she said.

"Child sexual exploitation is perpetrated by close relatives and I have come forward to complain and break my silence," the woman said.

"I had several sleepless nights as these incidents haunted me. I can have a sound sleep tonight by exposing the real face of an otherwise gentleman," she said.

The woman said in her complaint that she chose to approach police now as the perpetrators of such crimes were protected by the "silence of the families."

"Also I want all survivors of child sexual abuse to come forward and file complaints. Finally, I want to break the silence and personally take away the tacit collusion and social protection pedophiles have come to count on," she said.

The woman said she had filed a complaint with police in Canada too. She said the long delay in preferring her complaint was due to societal pressure and the stigma associated with making this public. "My endeavor is also to protect vulnerable children from such a person and others like him," she said.