The Samtse District Court has sentenced six individuals to up to nine years in prison for their involvement in sexual abuse cases of four minors that happened in Gomtu last year. The court, however, found the officer-in-charge of Gomtu Police Station not guilty of rape and aiding in child molestation.
The court found 23-year-old Narayan Basnet and 29-year-old Ajay Gurung guilty of raping a minor over the age of 12, sentencing each to nine years in prison.
Narayan Basnet was ordered to pay the girl Nu 90,000 as compensation within a month of the issuance of the verdict.
Meanwhile, the girl who was raped by Ajay Gurung declined to accept any compensation.
Additionally, 30-year-old Kesang Rigden was convicted of attempted rape of a minor and was sentenced to five years in prison, while being acquitted of more serious charges of child molestation and rape.
He has to compensate approximately Nu 45,000 to the girl.
Another offender, 39-year-old Shacha, was sentenced to three years in prison for child molestation.
Similarly, 22-year-old Kinley Rabgay was convicted of sexual harassment and was handed down a three-month sentence equivalent to a fine of 5,125 ngultrum.
30-year-old Sangay Thinley, the former officer-in-charge of Gomtu, was acquitted of charges related to rape and aiding in child molestation due to insufficient evidence.
However, he was found guilty of serving alcoholic beverages to a minor and was sentenced to three months in prison or has to pay Nu 10,750 fine.
Four girls aged 16 to 18 were sexually abused in multiple sexual assault cases in Gomtu last year.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Phub Gyem
