Jailbreak: The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) yesterday arrested the three male inmates, who had escaped Wangdue police custody four days ago.

The men were nabbed around 12.30am yesterday from Gomthang, Wangduephodrang.

Following a tip off from a cow-herder, police found the three inmates in Gomthang, about a three-and-a-half-hour walk, from Bae Langdra.

Chief of police, brigadier Kipchu Namgyel, said the person would be rewarded Nu 30,000 as announced after the three inmates had absconded.

“I’m grateful to the public, who rendered full support, and particularly the person, who informed police, that led to the arrest of the inmates,” brigadier Kipchu Namgyel said. “As promised, the person will be rewarded.”

The three inmates, according to police, will be immediately escorted to Chamgang central jail.

The three inmates from Sephu gewog, Wangduephodrang, escaped through the toilet window, after cutting the iron bars between 7.30pm to 8pm.  Sangay Penjore, 24, Passang Dorji, 24, and Tashi Namgay, 31, were sentenced to life imprisonment for chorten vandalism.

The three, all farmers, were convicted for vandalism of three chortens in Sephu gewog – the Namgay Khangzang, Wangdue gonpa and Darlo sephu chortens – in April last year.

They were arrested in July 2014 and the district court sentenced them to life imprisonment on December 24 last month.  They were to be transferred to Chamgang central jail but escaped police custody before the jail van from Thimphu reached Wangdue.  They are also connected to another chorten vandalism case.  Police said they were to undergo a trial in Trongsa for vandalising Danglo chorten in Tangsibji, Trongsa.

Brigadier Kipchu Namgyel said the three men were to be transferred to Trongsa for the court hearing from Chamgang central jail.

“But now we’ll have to see how we can go about it, for which we’ll have to talk to court officials in Trongsa,” Brigadier Kipchu Namgyel said.

As soon as police learnt that the three inmates had escaped, a search team was fielded across Wangdue.  An investigation team from the headquarters in Thimphu, led by the deputy chief of police (crime and operations), and two officers visited Wangduephodrang.

Two female and a male police personnel, who were on duty when the inmates escaped, were also confined in quarter guards (detained).  According to police, a thorough investigation into circumstances that led to the escape of the three inmates would be carried out, after which “appropriate action” would be taken against the concerned officials.

“Besides, steps to prevent such incidences in future shall be implemented,” a police officer said.

By Kinga Dema