Samtse District Court sentenced a 43-year-old man from Sangngachholing Gewog in Samtse to five years six months imprisonment for attempted rape of a 10-year-old girl.
The judgement that was out last week states that in December last year, the convict visited the victim’s grandmother’s place to buy and drink Bangchang (local alcohol) with his friends.
After the drinking session, the man remained at the place while his friends left. The victim’s grandmother was also away to tend to the cattle. Taking advantage of the situation, he attempted to rape the girl, who was in the altar room, replacing the water offering, stated the verdict.
It also says before the convict could complete his act, the girl’s grandmother came in. The victim is a student, studying in one of the schools in Samtse.
Penal Code of Bhutan’s section 181 states that a person shall be guilty of the offence of statutory rape if the person engages in sexual intercourse with a child below 12 years, or an incompetent person, either with or without knowledge of the other person being a child or incompetent.
The felony is graded a second-degree felony. Section 36 of the Penal Code states that the court may order a defendant to pay appropriate damages or reparation for any loss, injury, or deterioration caused to a victim.
The judgment stated that since the girl did not suffer any physical injury or there is no threat to her life, the court ruled out any compensation to the girl.
