The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Thimphu police arrested a 47 year old man from Shaba, Paro for impregnating his 14 year old niece. The case was initially forwarded to the police by the Forensic Department, JDWNRH on 5th September stating that a minor school going girl was found to be pregnant while doing a medical examination.
The 14 year old victim is seven months pregnant and is from Samtenling, Thimphu. After receiving information on that, police called the victim and upon questioning her, it was learnt that, she was sexually assaulted by her uncle who is the husband of her maternal aunt.
The incident took place this year before the start of her academic year in February 2017. They stay in separate houses but that day the mother of the victim left the victim under the care of her aunty since she had to go out for some work.
The suspect committed the crime in the absence of his wife as the wife was working in a restaurant whereby.
Police said that, as per the information from victim’s family, the teachers of her school asked the mother of the victim to take her to hospital since she did not look fine with sudden swelling of her body. “Actually, nobody suspected the victim being pregnant”, the police added.
“Whether there is consent or not we are yet to find out, however she said that the suspect forced himself on her. As of today the cases is booked for rape of child of 12 years and above”, police said.
The suspect was arrested on the same day (5 September) of the complaint after he was brought to police station by the family of the victim. The suspect confessed to the crime.
Police said that, whenever there are cases of teenage pregnancy in the hospital, the hospital directly informs them for necessary investigation. The police said, “Such cases are directly informed to the police even if the girl is pregnant with consent.”
This is because per section 183 of PCB 2004, a defendant shall be guilty of the offence of rape of a child above the age of twelve years, if the defendant has sexual intercourse with a child between the age of twelve to eighteen years.
In addition, section 184 of PCB 2004 states that, the offence of rape of a child above the age of twelve years shall be a felony of the third degree.
The suspect had been detained and the police are investigating the case.
