The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has withdrawn charges against eight individuals, alleged to have involved in illegal repatriation of Indian Currency or Rupees in Jaigaon, India by using Bhutanese ATM cards.
OAG had dropped the charges against the suspects on Monday after Phuentshogling Dungkhag Court asked them to do so. One of the senior judiciary officials said as per the Civil and Criminal Code of Procedures, court has legal rights to dismiss or withdraw the case.
OAG clarified that the court commanded them to take such decision since they failed to produce the accused people when hearings are held.
Due to similar reasons, Phuentshogling court has ordered the OAG to withdraw charges against another 15 people in the same case. They further said the contact numbers and addresses provided by the Anti-Corruption Commission have now become invalid.
The Chief Attorney with the OAG, Kinley Tenzin pointed out that the office has no legal authority to summon the suspects to court. This, he added was also endorsed by the National Assembly during the last session of the parliament.
OAG has accused a total of 51 people including one Indian National for active and passive commercial bribery which took place from 2012-15. The Indian man who is the main suspect collected Bhutanese Currency from Jaigoan business firms and deposited the money in some banks in Bhutan under the name of 320 Bhutanese account holders. Later, the man used the Bhutanese ATM cards and withdrew the money amounting to over Rs 100 M from ATMs in Jaigaon.
He then sold the rupees in Jaigaon and earned profits. The Indian man also gave commission to those Bhutanese ATM card holders. The Office of the Attorney General forwarded the case to Phuentshogling court in March this year and so far, the court could conduct only preliminary hearing.
