The High Court sentenced a man from Samtse to 24 years in prison for the rape of a child below the age of 12 years. The court convicted Pema Wangchuk Drukpa of statutory rape and child molestation. He was arrested in September last year.
The convict, Pema Wangchuk Drukpa, was a Peljab with the Royal Bhutan Army. He was based in Paro. His case was tried by the Military Court sentencing him to 24 years in prison in April this year. The judgment was upheld by the High Court, earlier this month.
The convict was also ordered to pay a compensation of Nu 100,000 to the girl within two months from the day of the judgment.
As per court papers, the 37-year-old convict raped and molested the child who was staying with him in 2017. He was found guilty of raping the child several times. The child was just nine years of age at that time. She was living with the convict’s family since the wife was her aunt. She lived with them from 2014 to 2019.
The child is said to have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a mental health condition that is triggered by a horrific event the person experienced or witnessed.
According to the judgment, the convict failed in his responsibility as a guardian. His plea for minimum sentencing was rejected. The court stated that it will be difficult to discourage perpetrators from committing such an offence if the sentencing is light.
BBS reached out to authorities and contacts for the photo of the convict.
Kinley Dem
Edited by Sonam
