Paro District Court sentenced a man to three years non-compoundable imprisonment for theft, yesterday. The incident occurred earlier this year.
The 44-year-old man from Trashi Yangtse was found guilty of stealing eighteen and a half chain links from the iron suspension bridge, connecting Tamchhoe Lhakhang and the Paro-Chhudzom highway. The iron suspension bridge was built by Thangthong Gyalpo or the Great Iron Bridge Builder in the 14th century.
The court also ordered to surrender the confiscated chain links to the government. Sixteen and a half chain links were recovered from the convict. However, two chain links were already sold.
According to the Penal Code of Bhutan, a defendant shall be guilty of the offence of damage to cultural and national heritage property and national monuments, if the defendant damages, destroys or excavates a cultural or national heritage property and national monument.
The offence shall be a fourth-degree felony with a minimum of three years to a maximum of five years in prison.
Namgay Wangchuk, Paro
