March 10: The Dagana district court has sentenced Sangay Rinchen, a Drujeygang farmer, to three years in prison for raping a woman in October last year. He is also required to pay Nu. 9,000 as compensation to the victim’s husband.

Three other men including the Gup of Drujeygang have been found guilty of helping the rapist. Gup Sherub of Drujaygang was fined Nu. 6,000 for not reporting the incident to the police.

The two other men, Kinley Wanchuck, a Dagapela based businessman, and Karma Wangchuck, also a Drujeygang farmer, were fined Nu. 36,000 each.

According to the court verdict, the victim was on her way to Dagapela from Sarpang when the incident took place. Kinley Wangchuk gave her a lift but instead of taking her to Dagapela, he forcibly took her to Gup Sherub’s house in Drujeygang.

When she refused to spend the night at Gup Sherub’s house, Sangay Rinchen and Karma Wangchuk agreed to take her to her brother’s house. On the way, Sangay Rinchen raped her while Karma Wangchuk disappeared on the pretext of answering a nature’s call. After raping her, they took her back to Gup Sherub’s house. The Gup, instead of reporting the matter to the police, tried to settle the case.