The Wangdue Phodrang District Court sentenced six men to prison, with prison terms ranging from three months to one year for stealing five cattle from Bjenag Gewog in Wangdue Phodrang. The court passed the judgment today. According to the judgment, the convicts are also asked to pay a compensation of more than Nu 100,000 to four cattle owners within ten days from the day of the Judgment.
According to the judgment, two convicts aged 40 and 55 years, both from Bjena Gewog, have been sentenced to one year each non-compoundable prison term. They will not be allowed to pay money in lieu of their prison term since they have past criminal records.
Likewise, three convicts age ranging from 36 to 48 years have been sentenced to six months each compoundable prison term. They were all convicted of stealing eight cattle from Bjenag Gewog in February this year. However, three stolen cattle have been recovered from Tsirang and handed over to their respective owners.
A 38-year-old businessman from Tsirang has been sentenced to three months compoundable prison term for aiding and abetting the crime. As per the judgment, he took the stolen cattle in his bolero to a slaughterhouse in Tsirang.
Earlier, the people of Bjenag Gewog told BBS that they have lost around 19 cattle within a year. However, it is learnt that the convicts have confessed to lifting only eight in the court. The convicts, however, can appeal to the higher court within ten working days if they are not satisfied with the judgment.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
