The Trongsa dzongkhag court sentenced Chencho Gyeltshen, 47, a former kidu officer to 10 years, 3 months, and 17 days in prison for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl who worked in a drayang in Trongsa in 2018.

The verdict was passed in absentia, meaning  that he was found guilty and sentenced without being physically present during the trial or sentencing. The convict is currently residing in Australia. 

The  guarantor in the case, a 46-year old man from Punakha,  was handed two years and four months imprisonment. The verdict read that both the convict’s prison term shall come in effect from their date of arrest. 

While Chencho is in Australia his guarantor is said to be missing. 

Background of the case 

The incident happened on the night of June 3, 2018 at the victim’s house when she was then a 17-years-old. The girl had turned 18 on June 25, 2018 according to her date of birth. It is said that the victim was sick and was sleeping at her house when the suspect came to her place. 

The convict was arrested and detained the same night after the owner of the drayang lodged a complaint of alleged rape of the girl to the police. 

Trongsa hospital’s forensic medical report found that there was no sign of struggle, penetration or presence of sperm cells. 

Towards the end of June, 2018, Chencho was granted bail on the basis of the forensic report not establishing rape. The Trongsa police then send the forensic samples for DNA testing abroad. 

The report was opened on October, 3, 2022.

Chencho then managed to obtain a No Objection Certificate to apply for his visa to Australia and left for Australia in 2018.