Samtse dzongkhag court on May 23 sentenced a 23-year-old man from Satergang in Phuentshogpelri to nine years in prison for rape of a child above 12 years.

Dil Bahadur Rai, who works in a private firm in Samtse, was found guilty of sleeping with a 15-year-old girl.

The May 23 judgement stated that the defendant and the victim, who is a student, first met in Pagli town and exchanged mobile numbers. “They then kept in touch and expressed love for each other.”

It was stated that he then slept with the girl near a firm and at a hotel in the locality on March 29.

Dil Bahadur Rai was arrested on April 2 after the girl’s aunt lodged a complaint against him. The girl was staying with the aunt.

Office of the Attorney General (OAG) charged him for the rape of child above 12 years in accordance with section 183 of the amended Penal Code of Bhutan 2011.

The judgment stated that the defendant was sentenced to nine years as the offence is graded a second-degree felony.

Although the defendant was liable to pay compensation to the victim in accordance to section 36 of the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004, the victim submitted before the court that she doesn’t want any compensation, as the act was consensual and she was equally at fault.

Staff reporter