DOROKHA, Bhutan — A court in Bhutan sentenced Pastor Tandin Wangyal on Sept. 10 to three years and 11 months in prison for receiving funds for ministry activities from a Christian organization. The next day he was granted a reduced sentence of two years and 11 months after paying a $763 fine.
The verdict from the court in Dorokha, Samtse District asserts the pastor received $11,864 in funding from a foreign Christian organization to conduct trainings and spread Christianity in the Buddhist country, sources said.
Another pastor, M.B. Thapa (known as Lobzang), was sentenced to two years and four months for taking Wangyal to a village for a gathering for which he had not obtained prior permission, but he was entitled to pay a fine of $1,678 “in lieu” of prison that enabled him to remain free.
Wangyal was convicted under Article 71 of the Civil Society Organization Act of Bhutan, which outlaws raising funds for activities “in contravention of the laws of the country” and without prior permission.
The pastor has 10 days to appeal, but in comments hours before he was detained Sept. 9, Wangyal said he had already filed an appeal in Samtse District Court and was hoping for bail.
“I am worried about my wife and my three little sons,” he said. “Please pray for me and my family.”
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