August 22: The Samdrup Jongkhar district court has sentenced the former Martshalla gup Tendey Zangpo to one year three months in prison. The verdict was passed on Tuesday.

He has been found guilty of official misconduct and misuse of public fund during his tenure as Gup.

He was taken to the court by the Tshogpas of his geog.

The 10 Tshogpas have also been sentenced to one year in prison for defamation.They have been found guilty of defaming the former Gup by making baseless charges.

The Samdrup Jongkhar Drangpoen Tshering Dorji said of the 31 charges made by the Tshogpas against the former Gup, 13 were dismissed due to lack of evidence.

All of them can pay fines in lieu of the prison sentence within 10 days.