The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) fined two people with a minimum daily wage of 30 days for lodging a complaint on unreasonable grounds against a Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa’s party worker in Paro.
The complainants, in their complaint, had accused the party worker of creating an unhealthy trend of corrupt practices during the election period.
They said they had filed the complaint with an assurance from two witnesses.
However, during ECB’s hearing, the witnesses denied having met the complainants, thereby invalidating the complaint.
The complainants told BBS that despite presenting evidence against the party worker, ECB failed to investigate the case and instead questioned them.
“A group of villagers came saying that a DNT’s candidate and coordinator have been offering drinks and gifts to the people,” Tsagay, one of the complainants, said.
“In the first hearing, the witnesses changed their statement. But in the second hearing, despite submitting evidence to ECB, the judgment was against us instead of the ones who carried out the corrupt practices.”
ECB had also warned the witnesses as per the Election Dispute Settlement Rules and Regulations 2018.
Meanwhile, the two complainants, unhappy with the decision, said they will file the case to the court.
