The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has charged three people, a man and two women, to Phuentsholing drungkhag court for their alleged involvement in prostitution.

A 34-year-old man from Bindu in Samtse was charged for patronising a prostitute, after police in Phuentsholing, based on a tip-off, arrested him and a 20-year-old woman from Darjeeling, India, from Drukies Hotel in Phuentsholing on April 14.

OAG charges stated that the man was charged for violating section 377 of the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004, which states, “A defendant shall be guilty of the offence of patronizing a prostitute if the defendant gives money, property, or other gratification to engage in sexual act.”

The crime is graded a misdemeanour according to section 378 (A) of the Act.

OAG also charged the 20-year-old woman and her 18-year-old sister for violating section 373 of the Penal Code, which states, “A defendant shall be guilty of the offence of prostitution, if the defendant offers, agrees to engage, or engages in sexual conduct with another person for money or property.”

The crime is also graded a misdemeanour according to section 374 of the Act.

OAG charges stated that the man from Tendu, who was in Phuentsholing, for some shopping, met with an Indian man on April 13 night, who told him about a girl at a hotel and that if he pays Nu 3000, he could spend the night with her.

The 18-year-old woman was arrested from Bongopa Hotel.

It stated that the woman, who is known by the name Yeshi, and her 18-year-old sister, who is known as Chozang, were first brought to Phuentsholing in April last year by a woman. They were kept with an alleged pimp called PK Yonzon in Jaigaon, who made them stay with various men for 10 nights.

“The two women went back with Nu 20,000 each,” the charges stated.

It stated that on March 29, the alleged pimp asked them to come again in Phuentsholing and when they arrived the next day, he bought them a Samsung mobile and a Bhutanese SIM card.

The charges also stated that the two women said that they stayed in various hotels in Phuentsholing with many men from March 30 to April 13.

OAG stated that since PK Yonzon is at large, he will be charged to court when he is arrested and investigated.

Tashi Dema

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