The Lhuentse court sentenced two men from Lhuentse and Wangdue Phodrang to fifteen years for vandalizing a Chorten in Maenbi Gewog, Lhuentse in 2010. However, the court deferred the case against a 56-year-old man from Maenbi in Lhuentse who was accused of buying a sacred relic from one of them. The court passed the judgment yesterday.
63-year-old Chadokla from Tsaenkhar Gewog in Lhuentse was sentenced to 15 years in prison for vandalizing a Mani Dangrim Chorten. The incident occurred at Gaampang under Maenbi gewog in Lhuentse. The court also asked him to restitute an amount of Nu 150,000 to the government within one month for selling some stolen relics.
The court also sentenced his partner, 50-year-old Yangkula from Phangyuel Gewog in Wangdue Phodrang, to 15 years in prison. The judgment states that both of them committed the crime together. However, the court deferred the case against them for vandalizing two Jangchub Chorten in the same gewog since there was no corroborating evidence. Police arrested them from Maenbi in November last year.
Meanwhile, the court also deferred the case against a 56-year-old man from Maenbi since there was no evidence. He was charged for buying a sacred relic, dagger/Phub from Chadokla.
If unsatisfied with the judgment passed by the district court, the defendants can appeal to the high court within ten days.
