The High Court reversed the Haa District Court’s verdict and sentenced the former foreign minister, Rinzin Dorje to one year imprisonment with an option to pay a Thrimthue of Nu 45,000.
The court has also ordered Rinzin Dorje to pay 1, 11,640 within 10 days.
According to the verdict, Rinzin Dorje violated section 38(c) of the Civil Service Act and Section 53(1) (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act during his tenure as the then Haa Dzongdag.
He had used the Dzongkhag DCM pool vehicle between Haa and Thimphu for at least 10 times.
The Office of Attorney General had submitted to the High Court that the finance ministry circular which allowed the use of pool vehicle for personal use was for only ‘pressing and emergency personal needs.’
OAG had challenged the District Court’s ruling of transportation of private timber for 10 times as pressing and emergency personal needs. OAG had said the ruling is beyond its scope of definition. OAG had sought the interpretation of the word ‘emergency’.
The High Court ruled that the transportation of private timber did not fall within the scope of ‘pressing and emergency personal needs.’
The defendant has ten days to appeal to the Supreme Court since yesterday.
