Thinley Namgay
Pemagatshel Dzongkhag Court has sentenced Sangay Wangchuk, 38, from Jurmey in Mongar, to life imprisonment for vandalising two jangchub choetens and the statue of Drubthop Thangthong Gyalpo in Pemagatshel.
On April 17, Pemagatshel’s Lam Neten informed the police about the missing relics from the Drubthop Thangthong Gyalpo’s statue at the Yongla Geonpa.
Police investigations confirmed that the culprit entered through a window of the lhakhang and took relics from behind the statue.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) prosecuted the case.
Sangay Wangchuk confessed to the police about the crime. Previously based in Phuentsholing, he travelled to Pemagatshel on April 13, arrived the following day, and stayed with a friend.
On the afternoon of April 15, after meeting with the lam of Yongla Goenpa, Sangay Wangchuk went to Yongla Goenpa and stayed there. On that day, the monks were busy preparing to welcome the agriculture minister. Sangay Wangchuk pretended to assist the lam inside the lhakhang.
When the lhakhang was unoccupied, he seized the opportunity to open the door of the Drole Lhakhang. Later, he informed them he was returning to Pemagatshel. Instead, he went to Rashuri, returned around 9pm, and vandalised the statue before dawn, using a hammer and stone.
The relics have been recovered and are currently in the custody of the cultural officer of Pemagatshel.
The court has authorised the OAG and the cultural officer of the dzongkhag to proceed with the restoration of the relics, ensuring that due process is followed.
Sangay Wangchuk is also implicated in two previous cases of vandalism.
On February 25 of this year, Thongsa Chiwog Tshogpa reported to the police about the vandalism of Woongamenang’s jangchub choeten. Despite investigations, the culprit remained elusive.
On March 5, Thongsa Chiwog Tshogpa notified the police again that Gomtsang’s jangchub choeten had been vandalised, yet again, the police were unable to identify the perpetrator.
During the investigation into the Yongla Geonpa case, it was discovered that Sangay Wangchuk was the offender.