The former Trongsa Dzongda Lhab Dorji, his wife Karma Tshethrim Dema, former Draagteng Gup Tenzin and former land surveyor Narayan Dangal appealed to the Supreme Court today. The High Court convicted them on Friday regarding a land scam in Trongsa.
The appellants were sentenced to concurrent prison terms ranging from one and half years to six years. They were charged with forgery, official misconduct, solicitation, deception and influencing the witness.
As per the judgement, Karma Tshetrim Dema illegally acquired a land at Thumang in Nubi Gewog involving the other appellants. They were also convicted for an illegal acquisition of another land in Taktse.
The Anti-Corruption Commission knew about the case in 2011 after Gyalmo, a landowner, complained to the commission. She denied selling her land in Taktse.
The ACC registered the case with the Trongsa District Court in 2017 after the Office of the Attorney General dismissed it saying the case did not merit criminal proceedings.
Meanwhile, the other two individuals convicted in the case, former Drangpon Ugyen Tenzin and former Nubi Gup Phuntsho, are yet to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Tshering Zam
