The Bhutanese Leading the way.
After more than three months of wait, the Thimphu district court received the DNA report of 73-year old, Bapula, twins born to the 17-year old minor, who is the rape victim.
The report was received on 25 October and it will determine the paternity of the twins. And the court will pass its judgment based on the report
However it is not known whether the result is positive or negative.
The DNA samples were sent to Sri Lanka, Genetech Lab on 31 July after the 73-year old suspect requested for a DNA test to confirm if he really was the father of the twins.
For each sample the suspect had to pay US$ 45.
Meanwhile the suspect is detained with the Thimphu police station.
Case history
A complaint was lodged against the suspect by the father of the victim, Taw Tshering, on 20 June with the Woman and Child Protection Unit (WCPU) of Thimphu police after he discovered that his 17-year old daughter was impregnated by the suspect.
After the investigation was followed by the police, the suspect was detained and later the case was forwarded to the Thimphu district court on 5 July and the suspect was charged with rape of a minor above 12 years.
The 17 year old school going girl was impregnated by the 73-year old man in Yusipang, Thimphu last year.
The victim was a class VII student, in one of the schools in the capital. The girl gave birth to twin daughters.
Until 5 June, the family members had not known that their daughter was pregnant but after she complained of swollen legs they had gone to the hospital for check-up where it was confirmed that she was pregnant.
The suspect lives few meters away from victim’s house in Yusipang.
The Bhutanese learnt that the victim was lured by the suspect by occasionally giving money. The suspect is from Yusipang under Chang gewog, Thimphu.
The victim is the only daughter of the family and the family lives in a one room apartment in Yusipang. They are from Trashigang, Radi and her father is an orchard caretaker.
Chencho Dema
What if the DNA test comes out as negative? How will justice be done then to the old man who has been behind bars so this long?
This is the rule of law in Bhutan for low level people. If it was an influential person. He would have been let scott free even if he was found guilty by the court of law. Have mercy to the old man in the city bar till DNA test is verified.
The old man deserves no mercy in this regard. The DNA test is to confirm if he was the father, but rape was certain. The girl was his granddaughter’s age.