Paro College of Education finally suspends 2 students charged with gang rape

An official from Paro College of Education shared that the two boys involved in a rape case has now been suspended.

There had been growing outrage after it was found that the two students of the college continued to attend classes normally even after a police investigation established that they had committed gang rape against a young woman.

This was after this paper brought to light the case and the continued presence of the boys in the college normally attending classes leading to the victim getting very disturbed.

Earlier, the college management said that since the college has not received any prosecution letters from either the Royal Bhutan Police or the Office of Attorney General (OAG), the suspects are still attending their classes and are not suspended.

The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB)Vice Chancellor Nidup Dorji had also shared that until the suspects are proven guilty, and until the RUB has the verdict from the court, they have no right to suspend the suspects.

However, according to sources it was made known to the college by senior officials that they were not happy with how this matter is being handled and that led to the suspension of the two alleged rapists.

Background

After completing the exams, a student who was a friend of the young woman invited her to his house where they hung out as drinking buddies.

The woman who was drunk went to bed and passed out. Her friend raped here while she was still passed out. Then the other person also did the same but this time she regained consciousness and found out what was happening.

The girl filed a complaint with the police which conducted the investigation.

According to the section 187 of the Penal Code of Bhutan, a defendant shall be guilty of offence of gang rape where two or more persons engaged in raping another person.

The offence of gang rape shall be a felony of the second degree which is a term of minimum nine years and a maximum of less than fifteen years.

The case has been forwarded to Office of Attorney General (OAG) and is still under review.