The Home Minister’s lawyer appealed to the High Court today after yesterday’s judgement by the Thimphu District Court. The district court sentenced the Home Minister to 2 months in prison for falsely claiming vehicle insurance in 2016.
According to Lyonpo’s lawyer, they are appealing because ‘It is in the interest of Justice and the merit of the case that (they) have based upon to appeal the case as it involved ‘Question of LAW and Question of FACTS’. When (Lyonpo) claimed the Insurance from RICBL, Lyonpo had valid comprehensive Insurance.’
He states that ‘critical evidence has been submitted to the court’ which proves Lyonpo’s innocence. He alleges that these pieces of evidence are ‘left unattended’ by the court. The lawyer said that the court has not taken into account the statement of ‘expert witness’ but based its judgment on the ‘vague statement submitted during the investigation period.’
Meanwhile, Thimphu district court sentenced four Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Ltd. (RICBL) officials and an owner of an automobile workshop ranging from one month to one year in connection with the Home Minister’s false vehicle insurance claim.
With two offences, the former Executive Director, Sonam Dorji is sentenced to one year in prison for misusing his position and changing vehicle insurance cover of Home Minister Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen from the third party to comprehensive scheme. He is also found guilty of asking his staff to change the scheme without his inspection and providing a claim of Nu 2,26,546.
RICBL’s general manager Sangay Wangdi is sentenced to six months in prison for solicitation and asking his inspection officer Ugyen Namdrol to arrange blank receipt from automobile workshop to adjust the bill.
Ugyen Namdrol is sentenced to one year in prison for forgery and deceptive practices. He is found guilty for arranging a blank receipt to adjust claims of ngultrum 1,25,746. He also signed the resolution deceiving the committee to make payment for the Home Minister. He was a member of the claims committee.
Sangay Dorji is found guilty for aiding and abetting as he signed the committee’s resolution although he knew the claim was false. He is sentenced to one month in prison.
Dagap Workshop owner, Yonten Phuntsho is sentenced to six months for issuing a blank receipt to Ugyen Namdrol knowing it is not allowed.
However, they can pay in-lieu of the imprisonment. They are also allowed to appeal to the higher court within ten working days if not satisfied with the judgment passed by the district court.
