Chencho Dema | Punakha

A 37-year-old man from Shengana in Punakha has been handed a prison term of one year, one month, and 17 days for eating and leaving bars and restaurants without paying.

The man is charged with larceny by deception by Punakha police.

According to the Penal Code of Bhutan, a person who obtains property of another by deception or cheating shall be guilty of larceny.

Because this is his second conviction for the same offence, the offence is not compoundable, meaning he cannot make restitution in lieu of a prison sentence.

The man was also convicted for one month and five days on September 14 last year for the same crime. He was arrested from Lobesa on August 9 last year.

The man had visited a number of bars and restaurants in Lobesa, ordered beer, and left without paying.

The shopkeepers initially ignored the man’s behaviour, but reported to the police after he did it repeatedly.

The man had consumed 13 bottles of beer, a plate of momo, a plate of rice with shakam (dried beef curry), and milk packs from nine different restaurants and bars.

The man was also found dining and dashing in Punakha.