In its rebuttal statement, the Office of Attorney General (OAG) said the Foreign Minister, Rinzin Dorje’s act of awarding contract illegally, as the then Haa Dzongda, had violated the tender laws. OAG was presenting its rebuttal on Lhakhang Karpo case to the Haa District Court, today.
“The tender laws were violated when the former dzongda did not involve the whole tender committee,” OAG’s representative said.
OAG’s representative said the former dzongda had awarded timber-sawing contract illegally to LD sawmill without consulting the tender committee. He said the former dzongda had asked LD sawmill to pay Nu. 37.7 per cubic feet, the amount the committee had rejected initially .
Lyonpo Rinzin Dorje, during his submission to the court on February 27, had said timber-sawing work was awarded to the lowest bidder, LD Sawmill since the committee wanted the work done at the lowest possible cost given increased cost of construction materials during the time.
The minister has been charged on two accounts.
On the second charge of the former dzongda using DCM truck for his personal use, OAG’s representative said the date of receipts and vehicle movement order of the truck did not match. Some receipts were identified to be of a bolero vehicle and some of petrol and kerosene, according to the representative.
Foreign Minister Rinzin Dorje will submit his rebuttal on March 17.
