The Mongar dzongkhag court sentenced a health official to 10 years in prison for raping a 13-year old minor in September of this year.

Leki Wangdi, 25, who worked in the Mongar Eastern Regional Referral Hospital as a staff nurse was found guilty of raping the minor after making her drink alcohol.

The convict and the victim knew each other through Facebook and the victim came to his house to get help with her studies after he agreed on Messenger.

Although Leki Wangdi has previously confessed to the crime, he changed his statement in court. However, the chat history on their cell phones and the suspect’s wife insisting that the victim not disclose facts to the investigating agency and court with an assurance to compensate her through Messenger were used as evidence.

The crime is graded a second-degree felony with a prison term ranging from nine to 15 years.

Leki Wangdi was asked to pay a compensation of Nu 90,000, which is equivalent to two years’ national wage to the victim for ‘degrading and violating dignity’, and ‘intimidation and harassment’.

The compensation must be paid within 10 days after the verdict is rendered.

The Office of the Attorney General had also charged Leki Wangdi for child molestation for leaving a mark on the victim’s neck.

The crime is a fourth-degree felony with a prison term between three to five years.

However, with no past history of a criminal offence, the court gave Leki Wangdi a concurrent sentencing of 10 years.