November 9: The Phuentsholing Dungkhag court has sentenced Cheda, a 28 year old man from Amatar village in Sampheling Gewog in Phuentsholing Dungkhag for murder. He has been found guilty of murdering Kinley Zangmo a 23 year old hotelier from Punakha.

Cheda had previously worked for her as a cook in her hotel in Punakha. The court verdict was passed on November 2.

Kinley Zangmo was murdered sometime in July this year. Her half decomposed body was discovered by a cow herder on August 4 in Panasee village about three hours walk from Pasakha.

On the fateful day of her murder, she had come to Phuentsholing to buy zee from a dealer in Pasakha. Cheda who was accompanying her committed the murder thinking that she must be carrying huge amount of money to buy the zee. But he said after murdering her, he found only about Nu 2,000 in her handbag.

Another man, Kinley Tshering Dorji, said to be Kinley Zangmo’s boyfriend, initially a suspect in the case has been sentenced to four months in prison for involvement in the deal to buy and smuggle zee. He may however pay a thrimthue or a fine in lieu of the prison sentence.