The Trongsa dzongkhag administration has forwarded to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), a case of embezzlement involving the chairperson of the Drakteng Dairy Development Cooperative’s (DDDC) fund.

ACC officials said they would look into the matter soon and see if the case merits investigation.

The dzongkhag administration submitted the report to the ACC after they conducted a preliminary investigation.

The chairperson is accused of embezzling Nu 112,500 as per the dzongkhag’s internal audit report conducted for the particular case last year. The case surfaced after members of the cooperative lodged a complain with the dzongkhag administration.

Dzongkhag officials said the total amount embezzled was Nu 147,500 but he had restituted Nu 35,000 after the gewog administration conducted a meeting involving the members. Dzongkhag officials also said that the accused and the gewog had drawn an agreement whereby the chairperson had agreed to restitute the remaining amount soon.

The case was submitted to the ACC after the accused did not abide by the agreement.

Officials said the chairperson had leased the cooperative after the members could not manage it. After leasing, he was to deposit the rent of Nu 3,600 to the cooperative’s bank account every month since the structure belonged to the government. He had not paid the rent for 20 months, which amounts to Nu 72,000.

He also embezzled Nu 22,500, which members paid for membership. Members paid Nu100 per head every month. He is also alleged to have illegally sold out two Visi coolers each costing Nu 26,500.

DDDC was formed in 2011. It has 71 members and is located in Kuengarabten.

Nima Wangdi

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