Bumthang District Court sentenced six men and a woman to 11 months in prison, last week for not complying with the government’s directives to close shops by 7 pm and avoid gatherings in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
The sentences are based on two separate incidents that occurred at Chamkhar town on 18th and 21st of last month.
In the first case, police found 3 men drunk in a hotel at 10 PM behind closed doors. The hotelier was also said to be drunk when police apprehended them.
In the second case, a shopkeeper was found serving beer to two of her neighbours at around 8:30 on a Tuesday night. The shopkeeper defended of having offered the beer on goodwill to her neighbours who were said to have come to drop weaving equipment at her shop.
The court prosecuted the miscreants for Breach of Public Order and Tranquility as per Section 448 of the Penal Code of Bhutan which is a petty misdemeanour. However, they can pay Nu 41,250 each in lieu of the prison terms.
Meanwhile, the district court registered a new case this morning of a shopkeeper and two customers involved in a similar case in a bar around Jambay Lhakhang area.
Kipchu
