High Court acquits two in DeSuung embezzlement case

The High Court has acquitted an officer and a non-commissioned officer of the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) in the DeSuung Fund Embezzlement case. 

The court passed its judgement last week.

The two officers were convicted of embezzlement along with 40 other people, which included five officers, nine non-commissioned officers and 16 shopkeepers, by the Military Court in December last year.

Dissatisfied with the military court’s judgement, the two RBA personnel -Major Sigay Tshewang and  Pelpon Nima Gyeltshen, appealed to the High Court.

The Military Court found Major Sigay Tshewang guilty of embezzling Nu 949,670 from the fund for the 9th DeSuung Training Programme in 2013. He was sentenced to four years in prison and terminated from office without any retirement benefits.

The High Court overturned the verdict of the Military Court and cleared him of the charge last Thursday. The High Court, in its judgement, said the officer had maintained bills for the purchase made with the fund.

It added all bills have been jointly verified and countersigned by the training commandant, assistant staff and the accused himself.

Major Sigay Tshewang was at the time the administrative officer for the five week training programme.

The High Court found the officer had adjusted Nu 108,805 to cover up for the money spent on buying restricted items including alcohol. However, the court said the items were bought for the trainees as per orders from his superior and not for his own use.

As for Pelpon Nima Gyeltshen, the Military Court had convicted him for receiving Nu 45,000 from a meat shop. He was sentenced to six months in prison and terminated without any benefits.

But the High Court acquitted Pelpon Nima Gyeltshen due to lack of evidence to prove him guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Pelpon Nima Gyeltshen was at the time serving as an administrative assistant.

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