Amidst rumours that unfamiliar faces from Thimphu are in the villages of Monggar trying to sway voters, Sonam Dorji, 43, who is from Takchu in Monggar has been imposed a fine of Nu.3,000 and reprimanded for bribery. It had been five years since he last visited his village.
The Monggar Dzongkhag Election Dispute Settlement Body’s investigation revealed that Tshering, 69, received a gho and Nu.500, Lekey, 66, received a gho and Nu.600 and Dorji, 60, also received a gho and Nu.700.
One of the recipients, Tshering, had put up a complaint to the DPT’s Gewog Coordinator, who in turn reported the matter to the Dzongkhag Coordinator. The Dzongkhag Coordinator had then put up a formal complaint to the dispute settlement body.
The case against Lekey and Dorji was dismissed by the dispute settlement body since two of them were not directly influenced. The “gifts” and money have been forfeited.
“I was frightened but I had to complain as Sonam Dorji was seeking support for PDP,” said Tshering. Sonam Dorji had, during a verbal argument, said he supports neither party but is a registered Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa.
