Aizawl: The District Court’s Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) in Mizoram has convicted a former branch manager of State Bank of India’s Mission Veng branch, and his associate of corruption charges. Their punishment details will be announced on July 1, 2024.
Special Judge Dr. HTC Lalrinchhana found Lalkhomang Guite and his associate Gary T. Haokip guilty in the case.
The case dates back to November 2006 and October 2007, when Guite was the branch manager and Haokip owned the Sacred Heart Society.
Also implicated were K. Lalremtluanga, Chairman of the Mizoram Rural Development Society; Rosangkimi Ralte, an employee at the Sacred Heart Society; and Thantluangi, Chairman of the Upliftment of Backward Women Self Help Group (SHG).
They were accused of mishandling loans taken in the name of self-help groups for personal gain.
Specifically, Guite, Haokip, and Thantluangi, through the Upliftment of Backward Women Self Help Group, took a loan of five lakhs, of which the SHG received only one lakh, with the remaining four lakhs untraceable.
Additionally, Guite and Haokip, along with Lalremtluanga, facilitated loans of five lakhs each for three SHGs: Greenhill Self Help Group, Zoawi Self Help Group, and Mualmam Self Help Group. However, each SHG received only two lakhs.
During the trial, there was insufficient evidence to convict Thantluangi and Lalremtluanga. Unfortunately, Ralte passed away on April 3, 2018, during the ongoing case, and thus her matter could not be further pursued. Nonetheless, there was sufficient evidence to find Guite and Haokip guilty.