Chang Ugyen sentenced for three years

The High Court in Thimphu sentenced former Royal Advisor Chang Ugyen, 66, to three-year non-compoundable prison term on charges of fraudulent land transfers to his name.

After years of court battle, the former gup of Thimphu was charged for fraudulent practices when he was gup in 1987-89. He transferred over 10 acre of government land to his name.

Overruling the Thimphu district court’s verdict, the High Court verdict stated that the punishment must be proportional to the crime one has committed or the value involved in the crime.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) charged Chang Ugyen for manipulating his thram and increasing his land holding in Omkha by three acres to 3.02 acres, and registered seven acres in Lubding, both in Thimphu thromde during his tenure as a gup from 1987 to 1989.

Earlier Thimphu district court had sentenced Chang Ugyen to two years and six months compoundable prison term. Office of Attorney General, dissatisfied with the verdict, had appealed to the High Court.

Ugyen has 10 days to appeal against the verdict in Supreme Court.