Man charged with rape of 12-year-old girl in Ye Township

May 24, 2018

On April 24th 2018, a 12-year-old girl from Patamyar Kyout Tan quarter, A Baw village tract, Ye Township, Mon State, was raped by a 19-year-old fisherman. The man was later arrested and charged under Myanmar Penal Code #376 (punishment for rape) and Penal Code #511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences) at the Ye Police Station.

Mi Tin Tin Win, Chairwoman of the Ye Township Mon Women’s Network explained, “The perpetrator is a friend of the girl’s brother. He often visits their house. On April 24th, the girl was home alone and sleeping while her mother was at work. The perpetrator came to her house and raped her.”

The perpetrator threatened to kill her if she started shouting. After the incident, she went to her mother’s work and told her about it. They went together to the perpetrator’s boss’ house and reported the case to him.

According to Mi Tin Tin Win, the girl’s mother tried to ask the perpetrator about the incident, but he refused to say anything. However, when his boss asked him about it he confessed.

Mi Tin Tin Win added, “The Mon Women’s Network is linked to Marie Stopes International (MSI). MSI sent a medical response team to give her a medical examination. The organization also provided for her legal as well as medical expenses.”

After checking the evidence and receiving the girl’s medical report from the hospital, the police from Ye Town reported the case to the Mawlamyine District Court. They charged the perpetrator in May. The young girl is currently studying in grade 4 at primary school in A Baw village. She lives with her widowed mother, who works in the dried fish and shrimp industry.

See HURFOM’s 2017 report, Cracks in the Silence, for information about the prevalence of sexual violence against children and the challenges to accessing justice in Mon State and Mon areas of southern Burma.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News