Dechen Dolkar

The management of the Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) has forwarded an alleged case of an attempt to rape to the police on March 22.

The incident occurred on the night of March 21 at the National Covid-19 hospital at Taba.

Both the suspect and victim are health staff of JDWNRH, who tested positive for Covid-19 and were kept for isolation.

They tested positive while they were on duty and working in containment mode.

Officials from the national referral hospital said both patients were symptomatic and admitted to the Covid-19 hospital.

According to a source, the alleged incident happened when the 27-year-old suspect was in the room of a 26-year-old victim.

It was alleged that they were watching a movie on a laptop together until late night and the suspect attempted to rape the victim after watching the movie.

Sources said they were staying alone in individual rooms.

Sources from the hospital management said the victim had lodged a complaint to the hospital management on March 22 morning about the incident.

“Since the issue is criminal in nature, we have forwarded the case with the statement letter from both parties to the police on the same day for further investigation,” a source said.

Police sources said the case is registered and they would conduct further investigation after the lockdown is lifted.

Meanwhile, health minister Dechen Wangmo said she is concerned about the incident.

“I have zero tolerance to sexual harassment,” she said.

Sources said vulnerable patients in the hospital were now kept in common rooms and couples and patients with attendants were kept in separate rooms.

As of March 21, there are 22 patients at the Covid-19 ward in Taba.