Bhutan's top SC judge detained in conspiracy case
What's the story
The Royal Bhutan Police has detained the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, a former top military officer, and an associate justice for allegedly plotting to replace the country's Chief Justice, the Army chief, and a law officer, according to media reports. On Wednesday, the police arrested SC judge Kuenlay Tshering, along with drangpon (associate justice) of the Pemagatshel Dzongkhag administrative unit Yeshey Dorji.
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Two were arrested following detention of former Royal Body Guard
"The two were reportedly arrested following the detention of former Royal Body Guard (RBG) commandant Brigadier Thinley Tobgye in connection with a "criminal conspiracy" against the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA)," Bhutan's state-run official newspaper Kuensel reported.
Report
A woman arrested few months ago disclosed their conspiratorial relationship
"The alleged criminal conspiracy and impersonation cases reportedly came to the fore after a woman, who was arrested a few months ago, disclosed their conspiratorial relationship," the report said. The report citing sources said that their motives were to allegedly become the RBA's Chief Operations Officer, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Attorney General or Registrar General of the Supreme Court.
Detainment
Three detained for trying to frame current Chief Operations Officer
"The three were detained in the same case of trying to frame the current Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army Goongloen Gongma Batoo Tshering in what is being called an untrue corruption case," the Bhutanese newspaper reported. "Brigadier Tobgye allegedly had illegally obtained some documents from the RBA regarding the procurement of the United Nations vehicles," the report said quoting a source.
Documents
Documents were allegedly going to be used to undermine COO
"The quotation was done publicly and fairly but documents were attempted to be used to undermine the COO," the report said. The former military officer is ACCused of then using a woman named Khandu Wangmo to pass on those documents to sitting Supreme Court Judge Tshering to frame charges so that it could be sent to the ACC for a case against the COO.
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'Three accused were friends and belonged to the same group'
"Dorji is not directly involved but he has been detained as he was well aware of what was going on," the report said, adding that the three accused were friends who were well known to each other and belonged to the same group.
Chargesheet
Preliminary hearing to be held within the next ten days
"The case was charge-sheeted to the Thimphu District Court based on the investigation by the RBP," the report said. "The Thimphu District court within the next ten days will allow for a preliminary hearing where the accused will get a copy of the charge sheet and also get an opportunity to present their side of the story," it said.