Bhutan jails first offender under anti-smoking law
March 4th, 2011 - 5:34 pm ICT by ANIThimphu (Bhutan), Mar 4(ANI): Sonam Tshering, a monk in Bhutan, has become the first person to be jailed under that country’s anti-smoking law.
According to Timeslive.co.za, a court sentenced Tshering to three years in prison for violating the ‘Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan 2010′.
Tshering was arrested in January for smuggling 48 packets of chewing tobacco, which he said he had bought from India.
The 23-year-old was charged for not paying duty for the tobacco.
Bhutan had banned the sale of tobacco in 2005, and tightened up its law further last year to combat smuggling, requiring consumers to provide valid customs receipts for their cigarettes.
Smokers are restricted to 200 cigarettes or 150 grams of other tobacco products a month that can be legally imported.
Tshering has 10 working days to appeal the court’s verdict. (ANI)
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Tags: 200 cigarettes, bhutan, chewing tobacco, consumers, customs, first person, India, jails, monk, receipts, smokers, smoking law, sonam, tobacco control act, tobacco products