The police have arrested three men from Trongsa, Tsirang and Sarpang for misusing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, yesterday. They are said to have sold SIM cards, they had availed in their names, across the border.
The SIM cards were used by the people from across the border for extortion, threat calls and to demand ransom in case of kidnappings.
The man from Trongsa had sold 8 B-Mobile SIM cards; the one from Tsirang had given away 6 B-Mobile and Tashi Cell SIM cards and the man from Sarpang had either sold or given away 9 B-Mobile and 12 Tashi Cell SIM cards.
They were arrested for aiding and abetting the kidnaps.
As per the Penal Code of Bhutan, chapter 10 a defendant shall be guilty of the offense, if the defendant engages in a conduct designed to accommodate or help another person in the commission of a crime.
The Chief of Police, Brigadier Kipchu Namgyel said they have done enough advocacies on misuse of SIM cards last year and yet people pay no heed. “Individual or agencies will be held responsible for the misuse of SIM cards.”
As per one of the officials of a service provider, there is no restriction on the number of SIM cards a person can avail. He said they being a business organization they have no right to limit the issuance of it. “It is an individual’s responsibility,” he said.
