Punakha dzongkhag court sentenced a 29-year-old man to nine years in prison for impregnating a 16-year-old girl.

According to the judgment rendered on December 25, the man was found guilty of violating section 184 of the amended Penal Code of Bhutan (PCB) 2011 for having illicit relation with a minor.

The victim, who is a student, gave birth to a baby girl on September 7. She turned 17 then.

The office of the attorney general (OAG) on October 2 charged the man with rape of a minor.

The accused, who works as a DCM driver for the girl’s parents, was married. He was living with the girl’s family.

The girl’s parents and the man’s wife knew about their relationship only after the girl gave birth.

The man claimed that it was consensual.

Though the attorney had submitted to court that the man should provide compensation for the child in accordance with the Marriage Act, the parents of the girl submitted to the court that they do want any compensation from the accused.

The girl’s brother reported the case to police after she delivered the child.

Staff reporter