The Bhutanese Leading the way.
After almost three months, the Thimphu district court still awaits the DNA report of the 73-year old man, which will determine paternity of twins born to the 17-year old minor, a rape victim.
The case is under trail and in wait of the DNA report.
The DNA sample of the suspect, victim and of the two twins daughter were sent to Sri Lanka, on the request of the suspect by the national referral hospital (JDWNRH) on 31 July. For each sample the suspect had to pay USD 45.
A source from the hospital confirmed the results have not yet arrived.
The complaint was lodged against the suspect by the father of the victim on 20 June with the Woman and Child Protection Unit (WCPU) of Thimphu police.
The case was forwarded to the Thimphu district court on 5 July and the suspect was charged with ‘rape a minor above 12-years-old’.
A 17 year old school-going girl was impregnated by a 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 and is living with her parents in Yusipang where her father is an orchard caretaker.
Until 5 June, family members had not known that their daughter was pregnant but after she had complained of swollen legs, they went to the hospital for check-up where it was confirmed that she was six and half months pregnant.
An ultrasound was conducted where it was confirmed that she was carrying twins.
The victim did not reveal the name of the father until she was forced by her parents. The father was no other than the 73-year old man who lived just a few meters away from their house in Yusipang.
It was learnt that the victim was lured by the suspect and was occasionally given money. The suspect is from Yusipang under Chang gewog in Thimphu.
The victim is the only daughter in her family and lives in a one room apartment in Yusipang. They are from Radi, Trashigang.
Chencho Dema / Thimphu
