Defendant Khandu Wangmo did not attend hearing yesterday on health grounds 

Younten Tshedup 

Defendants involved in the alleged criminal conspiracy case presented their opening statement to the Thimphu Dzongkhag Court yesterday.

This was the second hearing of the case.  Media was not allowed.

While court officials and representatives of the defendants did not share the statement submitted during the hearing, it was learnt that Drangpon Yeshey Dorji and representatives of Justice Kuenlay Tshering and Brigadier Thinley Tobgay requested the court to dismiss the charges.

Representing himself before the court yesterday, Yeshey Dorji submitted that he was a victim in the criminal conspiracy case.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) earlier this month charged the Pemagatshel Drangpon as an abettor of mutiny in collusion with Khandu Wangmo and Justice Kuenley Tshering with ulterior motives to become the Registrar General of the Supreme Court.  He was also charged with larceny by deception.

It was learnt that he denied the charges and said that he was the first person to report the case to police.  He requested the court to dismiss the charges.

It was learnt that Justice  Kuenlay Tshering’s representative submitted to the court that the former Justice was a victim, who failed to verify information he claimed he had received.  The representative thus appealed to the court to dismiss the charges.

The Supreme Court Justice was charged with abetting mutiny, abuse of functions or position and illegally obstructing lawful authorities.

According to a source, the Royal Body Guards’ former commandant Brigadier Thinley Tobgay’s representative submitted that the accused was deceived into committing the alleged crimes, and could not verify the information he claimed he was fed with.

Thinley Tobgay is charged with mutiny, criminal misappropriation of property, aiding and abetting, official misconduct and harassment.

Meanwhile, defendant Khandu Wangmo did not attend the hearing on health grounds.  Khandu Wangmo has the maximum charges.  She was charged with eight offences, including abettor of mutiny, criminal misappropriation of property, larceny by deception, illegal possession of firearm, impersonation of uniformed personnel, four counts of solicitation of official misconduct, obstruction of lawful authorities, and harassment.

It was learnt that the court will conduct the opening statement of defendant Khandu Wangmo before the next hearing scheduled on March 25.

The court denied bail to the defendants.