The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted its second rebuttal statement against the Speaker Jigme Tshultim at the Monggar District Court today.
ACC reiterated that the land allotment was done illegally and the allotment committee had not allotted land on a priority basis.
ACC said the land should have been first allotted to those holding business license, followed by local residents and the rest. ACC also added that most of the recipients were rich and influential people.
However, the Speaker refuted the charges saying that he had not violated any laws. Citing Article 27 section 6 of the Constitution, the Speaker said ACC should function according to the Anti-Corruption Act.
The Speaker said the Act came only after 2011 and therefore ACC cannot take up cases, which happened some 13 to 14 years ago. He also said the ACC do not have legal mandate to prosecute the case as per the Constitution.
The Home Minister, Minjur Dorji, also submitted his rebuttal statement. Lyonpo said as the Monggar Dzongda then, he had been following the Royal Kaja and the order from the Zonal Administration then.
He said there was no violation of kajas since the allotment was done only after urban land was sold by the state to the public.
The verdicts will be passed beginning tomorrow.
