March 28: Thimphu Police have forwarded the REWA case to the Thimphu district court on March 17. The police are charging the nine suspects, all of them former REWA staff, for involuntary man slaughter.

On the evening of February 7, a 31-year-old man who was being treated at REWA died following what the staff described as physical therapy.

Eyewitnesses say he was beaten to death. A forensic expert with the National Referral Hospital said external physical examination showed that the 31-year-old had succumbed to injuries he had received.

The Thimphu district court will assign the case on Monday. The court has not been able to start the hearings as court proceedings were suspended from March 17 to March 28 to enable the people to participate in the National Assembly election.

REWA was a rehabilitation centre for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics.