The Panbang Dungkhag Court, yesterday, passed its judgement on the case of Goshing Gup and seven others involved in the embezzlement of the public fund from 2011-2015.
According to the judgement, Goshing Gup Sangay Lethro is sentenced to ten years and three months in prison for ten counts of embezzlement, solicitation, fraudulent claim and other official misconduct. The Court also ordered the convict to restitute over Nu 2.9 M. He is, however, appealing to the District Court.
Initially, he was charged with 27 counts, including embezzlement, solicitation, fraudulent hiring scheme and official misconduct. He was suspended last year. But later in due course of Court proceedings, some of the charges were dropped.
The Anti-Corruption Commission investigated the issue in 2016 following a complaint alleging the gup of embezzling the fund meant for construction of gewog connectivity road in 2011 and farm road from Lamthang to Mewanggang in 2012. The case was then forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General in 2017.
The Dungkhag Court also sentenced a contractor, Rinchen Drakpa, to two years in prison for his involvement in the embezzlement of public fund. However, he can pay in lieu of the prison term.
Four of the six employees of Bhutan Oil Corporation of Gelegphu depot, who were alleged to have colluded and inflated the bills with the Gup, have been acquitted by the Court. However, Mani Dipar Sarat Gautam and Mon Bdr Powel were found guilty and sentenced to three months each in prison. They can also pay in lieu of the prison term.
Pema Samdrup
