The High Court, yesterday, upheld the District Court’s judgment that convicted Home Minister Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen to two months in prison for false vehicle insurance claim worth more than Nu 200,000. The High Court in its verdict stated that charges made by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) are beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Home Minister had claimed more than Nu 200,000 from Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Limited (RICBL) as vehicle insurance for his Toyota Prado in June 2016 stating his vehicle met with an accident at Lamperi. The offence is graded a petty misdemeanour and can pay in lieu of prison terms. He was also asked to refund the full amount to the insurance company through the OAG.
Meanwhile, in the same case, the Thimphu district court sentenced four RICBL officials and owner of an automobile workshop ranging from one month to one year in prison.
According to the judgment, the former Executive Director of RICBL Sonam Dorji misused his position and changed vehicle insurance cover of the Home Minister from the third party to comprehensive scheme. He had also asked his subordinates to change the scheme without inspecting the vehicle and awarding Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen the claim. For the two counts of misuse of position, Sonam Dorji was convicted for one year, which is graded a misdemeanour.
RICBL’s general manager, Sangay Wangdi was also sentenced to six months in prison for solicitation and asking inspection officer, Ugyen Namdrol to get blank cash receipts from an automobile workshop to adjust the claims.
Ugyen Namdrol was convicted with forgery and deceptive practice. He arranged a blank receipt to adjust claims. He also signed the decision deceiving the claims committee to make the payment. He was sentenced to one year in prison.
Another RICBL official, Sangay Dorji was sentenced a month in prison for aiding and abetting as he signed the committee resolution despite knowing that the claim was false.
Yonten Phuntsho, the owner of Dagap workshop was sentenced to six months in prison for issuing a blank receipt.
The OAG had appealed to the High Court that the penalty on the Home Minister be raised to the maximum sentence for the offence. However, the High Court dismissed it.
The defendants can appeal to the larger bench of the High Court in the next 10 working days.
Samten Dolkar
