The Khamdang-Ramjar Member of Parliament (MP), Kuenga Loday, his four nephews and Khamdang Mangmi Sangay Tempa appealed to the high court recently. The Trashi Yangtse District Court sentenced them to a compoundable prison term of three years and nine months to five years for illegal road construction, last month.
MP Kuenga Loday was convicted of malicious mischief, breach of public order and tranquillity, hindering prosecutions and violation of the Road Act 2013. The court sentenced him consecutively for all the charges. He has to serve five years in total. And since it is consecutive sentencing for Misdemeanour and Petty Misdemeanour, the defendants can pay in lieu of the prison term.
Police arrested the MP and one of his nephews on March 1 for the construction of an illegal road carried out in September last year.
The road was found to be constructed in a highly restricted and prohibited area despite the refusal of a construction permit by the dzongkhag administration on two occasions.
Following a written complaint from the dzongkhag administration, the Royal Bhutan Police started formal investigations on October 12 last year.
Similarly, the Khamdang Mangmi, Sangay Tempa, was sentenced consecutively to four years and three months in prison and four nephews of the MP to three years and nine months for their involvement in the illegal road construction.
They were also ordered to pay a penalty of Nu 59,660 for the violation of the Environment Assessment Act.
Pema Seldon Tshering
Edited by Sonam
