Family of rape victim to appeal decision to jail perpetrator for only 3 years

January 16, 2018

WCRP: A sexual assault victim and her family are upset over the decision by the Kyaikmayaw Township Court to sentence her attacker to only three years in jail. The family is planning to appeal the decision at the Mawlamyine District Court.

“We are not happy with the decision. The victim reported that she was raped by [him]. The perpetrator was sentenced to jail for only three years even though he committed the crime. The victim’s family will appeal the case at the district level. We heard that the perpetrator also sued the victim’s family [for falsely accusing him],” said Mi Cherry Soe, Project Director from Jeepyah Civil Society Development Organization (JCSDO), which is supporting the victim.

According to reports, on June 17^th 2017, Daw T—, a 62-year-old woman from Kyune Kone village, Tarana village tract, Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State, was raped and strangled almost unconscious by her 45-year-old neighbor. After receiving Daw T—’s medical report from Mawlamyine General Hospital, the Kyaikmayaw Police arrested her neighbor and charged him with Penal Code #376 — punishment for rape.

“The victim did not have very strong evidence. The medical check did not find sperm in the victim’s body and the doctor said that he did not see any signs of injury on her body. Therefore, the court has charged the perpetrator with [Penal Code] #511 —– punishment for attempting to commit an offence — and he was sentenced to jail for only three years,” said Daw T—’s lawyer, Daw Yu Thandar Myint.

Daw T— is also concerned for her safety after reportedly receiving threats from the perpetrator, saying, “after the perpetrator is released from jail we will need to move from this village. He is not satisfied with his punishment and also threatened that he would do something [to me] after he is released from jail.”

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News