The Wangdue Phodrang District Court sentenced 15 men mostly from Bjenag and Ruebisa Gewogs to one year each in prison for malicious mischief. The court passed the judgment yesterday.
According to the judgment, the convicts aged ranging between 22-79 years have chased 172 mules from Khothangkha to Tiki Zampa via Tashilakha causing physical injuries to the animals on April 1 last year. Of which 171 have been recovered after a weeklong search.
The mules belong to the people of Lunana. As per the Lunana Gup, the people of Lunana usually keep their mules with the people of Khothangkha during winter as they migrate down to lower valleys with their horses and mules since the highlands are covered in snow. As per the judgment, the convicts chased the mules alleging that the mules pose threat to elderlies, crops and calves.
The convicts are also ordered to pay Nu 6,667 each to one of the owners as a mule could not be located after the incident. They were asked to pay the compensation within a month from the day of the Judgment. The judgment states that they will have to serve an additional 53 days if they failed to compensate the owner in time.
However, the convicts can pay money in-lieu of their prison term and are also allowed to appeal to the higher court within ten working days if not satisfied with the judgment.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
