MANDALAY – A forensic doctor on Wednesday testified that the toddler at the center of a widely followed sexual assault case was indeed raped.
The forensic doctor from Naypyitaw’s 1,000-bed General Hospital told the Dekkhinathiri District Court in the capital that a medical examination of the toddler showed she was raped, citing injuries and semen found on her body.
“The forensic doctor told the court that an examination found injuries and semen in the toddler’s vagina. The doctor said the exam turned up signs of sexual assault,” said Dr. Win Ko Ko Thein, one of the campaigners who have been pushing for justice in the case and who was present at the court session on Wednesday.
Dr. Win Ko Ko Thein said the testimony of the forensic doctor countered claims by the police and other skeptics on social media that the offender used their fingers to commit the crime, or that the girl was not sexually assaulted at all.
In early July, deputy police chief Major-General Aung Naing Thu said during a press conference that the culprit used his fingers to assault the girl.
“There are many significant irregularities in this case and there were many critics saying the girl was not raped but injured herself. But the testimony of the forensic doctor will provide useful facts to achieve justice for the girl,” Dr. Win Ko Ko Thein told journalists after the court session.
The forensic doctor, Dr. Tin Moe Moe Khaing, told the court that sperm was found inside the toddler’s vagina, and that her injuries indicated she was assaulted sexually.
Daw Ywat Nu Aung, a lawyer for the victim, told journalists: “According to the medical examination results, it’s a rape case.”
The toddler, dubbed “Victoria” by the media, was 2 years old at the time of the crime in May. The crime is alleged to have taken place at Wisdom Hill private nursery school.
Many people allege she was assaulted by two teenage sons of the school’s supervisor, Daw Ohnmar Hlaing. However, a complaint was filed on May 17 against Aung Gyi (aka Aung Kyaw Myo), the driver for the supervisor, accusing him of sexually assaulting the girl.
After a medical examination, Aung Gyi was released in late June, as his DNA did not match the sperm found in the girl’s body.
However, he was rearrested and charged under Article 376 of the Penal Code on July 4. Maj-Gen Aung Naing Thu said the driver was the only male who was at the nursery on the day of crime and that sperm was found in his underwear.
The deputy chief’s comment went viral, prompting widespread criticism of the police, who were accused of contradictions, inconsistency and a lack of logic in their investigation.
Victoria’s case has sparked widespread condemnation and interest nationwide. Many believe Aung Gyi is a scapegoat and that the actual culprits are still at large.
On Wednesday, the court’s advocate told journalists that the court is also planning to hear from the two teenage suspects—the sons of Daw Ohnmar Hlaing—in upcoming court sessions.
Daw Ohnmar Hlaing has requested the court not question her sons, saying they have been traumatized by the allegations made against them.
However, according to the advocate, the court has rejected the supervisor’s request to remove her sons from the list of witnesses.
“It is necessary to hear from everyone who may be involved, so the court will also hear from the two boys,” said U Kyaw Min Aung, the advocate of Dekkhinathiri District Court.
Htet Naing Zaw and Moe Moe contributed to this story from Naypyitaw.
