Dechen Dolkar

Two engineers from the Paro Dzongkhag Administration—one male and one female—were recently arrested and detained on corruption charges.

After being held in detention for over 10 days, they were released on bail a few weeks ago.

The female engineer was arrested and detained in Paro while the male was called to Thimphu and was subsequently arrested and detained.

According to sources, the engineers are accused of having executed contract work for the dzongkhag under the names of various contractors over the past three to four years. They were also alleged for awarding tender directly to the contractors that they knew.

The complaint was lodged anonymously to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

During the investigation, ACC officials confiscated the mobile phones and laptops of 15 engineers from Paro.

Sources told Kuensel that the electronic devices were seized to gather potential evidence related to the alleged corruption activities.

The ACC examined communications, financial records, and other relevant data stored on the devices that could shed light on the engineers’ involvement in questionable practices, such as awarding contracts under different contractors’ names.

It was discovered that out of 15 engineers, the two were suspected of serious financial transactions with the contractors and vice versa.

One of the engineers, who was on extraordinary leave during the alleged period of wrongdoing, was doing contract projects.

This case brings to light that many contractors are involved in the case.

While the total number of contracts carried out is still not known, ACC is investigating the contract projects awarded by the Paro Dzongkhag Administration for the 12th Five-Year Plan.

Every year, the Royal Audit Authority (RAA) conducts auditing, however, with the ACC investigating the case, the auditing process has been kept on hold for now.

ACC has confirmed that it received the case and with the investigation ongoing, officials declined to provide further details of the case.