The Mongar district court on Friday convicted Home Minister Minjur Dorji and National Assembly Speaker Jigme Tshultim of corruption and misconduct and respectively sentenced to one year, and two and a half years in prison in the Gyalpoizhing land allotment case.
Minjur Dorji’s case was taken as bailable in lie of cash money calculated on the basis of minimum daily wage as Nu 100 a day.
The Court’s verdict ruled that Speaker Tshultim was found guilty of illegally allotting plots to 23 individuals including his maid during his tenure as the Mongar Dzongda and chairman of the plot allotment committee in 2001-02.
Justice Gembo Dorji handed down the verdict to Tshueltim liable for two and half year prison term or pay Nu.90,000 in lieu of the term.
While, the court also sentenced the Home Minister Dorji to a year in prison for official misconduct in allotting plots to two dratshangs and the wife of a Kurichhu project engineer during his tenure as the Mongar Dzongda in 2005-06.
According to the verdict, the convicted needed to return the allotted plots to the government.
The court ruled that both the Speaker and the Home Minister failed to abide by His Majesty’s kasho (written order) issued in 1987 and the allotment criteria set by the works and human settlement ministry, stated the Kuensel.
The other plot committee members were also given a one year sentence for not carrying out their duties diligently. They can pay thrimthue in lieu of the prison term, the report added.
The committee members slapped with one year imprisonment:
1. Tappo ( Dzongrab)
2. Tashi Norbu Sherpa (AE) MMC
3. Karchung (Assistant Dzongkhag Agricultural)
4. Namgangla (BCCI)
5. Khina Maya (District Health Officer)
6. Sangay Dorji (ADEO)
7. CL Das (DE)
8. Pelden Norgay (DE)
9. Rinchen Wangdi (DZFO)
10. Dorji Wangchuk (DLO)
11. Lok Nath Dahal – (FO)
12. Kinley Dorji (LRO)
13. Tandin Dorji (DAO)
14. Dechen Singye (Secretary)
