In the eye-catching child rape case from Wisdom Hill nursery school in Nay Pyi Taw, the rapist has been confirmed by the Dakhina District Court to be the driver of the school supervisor.
The court announcement came after widespread public criticism over the inability to arrest the offender even after a month had passed.
"While investigation was going on over the case, suspect Aung Kyaw Myo (a) Aung Gyi has now been filed a lawsuit under Section 376. We gave a briefing about the suspect. For the suspect to defend himself, we set July 15 as a court hearing," said Deputy District Judge Nyo Htay.
As it is a child rape case, the court will hear the case as quickly as possible in cooperation with legal officers, police and the prosecution, he said.
Members of the girl victim's family harbored some doubt regarding the latest development as suspect Aung Gyi was released after a month of detention prior.
"When a CCTV record was shown to my daughter (who was not yet three years old at that time) she pointed to the one saying that this was Ko Ko (brother) who pinched her organ. I don't think the arrest came only for this one reason. I think there must be stronger evidence," said the victim's father.
Dr Win Ko Ko Thein, who is helping with the case, said the arrest without firm evidence was unacceptable adding that officials concerned need to clarify further.
"The child's father had already said that there should not be scapegoating anyone. There must be reasonable proof. They first released suspect Aung Gyi after a month. Then he was arrested again. Is there any evidence? Did they find another informer? Did they get stronger evidence? They have to make clarifications. Without these facts, we cannot accept the accusation against Aung Gyi. He will not accept it either. I mean that not for Aung Gyi alone but anyone can be blamed if there is a reason," said Dr Win Ko Ko Thein.
Suspect Aung Gyi had presented 26 defendant witnesses. Aung Gyi was the driver of school supervisor Ohnma Hlaing. Headmaster of the school U Pyinnya said he had never been in the school prior to the incident.
"He was the driver of Ohnma Hlaing's family. He never came to the school. On that day, he came to meet Daw Honma Hlaing," said the school head.
The victim's family opened a case at Zabuthiri Township Police Station on May 17 but the case was transferred to the Central Investigation Department (CID). CID then released the suspected man on June 24 after about a month of interrogation, said Police Colonel Min Han on the sidelines of a workshop related to money laundering held at the Hilton Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on June 28.
State Counsellor Office Director General Zaw Htay on June 30 said State leaders had verbally instructed officials from the Home Affairs Ministry and Myanmar Police Force (MPF) to bring justice to the case in which a young girl was sexually abused at a private school in Nay Pyi Taw.
Authorities' inability to arrest the offender despite over a month attracted public criticism when went viral online, spawning a social media campaign ‘Justice For Victoria’ which seems like it my extend into offline activities.
Criticism has erupted once again over incredulity behind the re-arrest of the suspect after his release.
