The DPT’s Khamdang-Ramjar Member of Parliament (MP), Kuenga Loday, tendered his resignation on Monday. The Speaker of the National Assembly has also accepted the resignation. Earlier in August, the Trashi Yangtse District Court sentenced the former MP Kuenga Loday, his four nephews and Khamdang Mangmi Sangay Tempa to a compoundable prison term of three years and nine months to five years for illegal road construction. The case is now in the Supreme Court.
Former MP Kuenga Loday was convicted of malicious mischief, breach of public order and tranquillity, hindering prosecutions and violation of the Road Act 2013. The district 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.
Dissatisfied with the district court’s judgment, the former MP appealed to the high court in August. The high court upheld the district court’s judgment. The former MP then appealed to the Supreme Court last week.
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.
Tshering Zam
Edited by Sonam
