The Office of the Attorney General takes one of the companies in Pasakha to court for illegal import of five foreign workers in November, last year. The case was filed at the Phuentshogling Dungkhag Court, yesterday. As per a press release from the Southern COVID-19 Taskforce, the company and the foreign workers have been formally charged as per relevant provisions of the Penal Code and Immigration Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
There are 14 people involved in the case. Police are yet to arrest the owner and the Chief Executive Officer of the company as they reside in India. Upon investigation, it was also learnt that the owner and the CEO illegally entered and exited through Ahlay land customs station several times.
Both of them will be charged with criminal nuisance under section 410 and 411 (B) and breach of public order and tranquillity under section 448 and 449 of the Penal Code of Bhutan.
The administrative officer, the only Bhutanese involved is also charged for failure to report crime under section 430 and 431 of the Penal Code of Bhutan. Despite, a driver of the company informing him of the illegal entry of the foreign workers, he didn’t inform the police or the taskforce immediately.
Two others were also charged under the same category. The remaining defendants are also charged accordingly. Since the defendants were kept for 21 days quarantine, the company has to bear the expenses incurred.
Since then, the company was shut down. Most of the foreign workers of the company has also left the country.
Sonam Penjor, Phuentshogling
