23 year old Sonam Tsering was sentenced to death with a two year reprieve on 25 May according to a news article in Lhasa Evening News.

Sonam Tsering is charged with “rioting and inciting the public to riot on 14 March 2008".

The Lhasa Intermediate People's court sentenced a further five men to prison terms ranging from 3 to 7 years for allegedly ‘hiding’ Sonam. They are Tashi Choedon, Kelyon, Yeshi Tsomo, Tayang, Tsewang Gyurmey.

According to the article "he undertook leadership role in inciting hundreds of people in rioting by setting cars and shops on fire and overturning police vehicles”. Sonam is semi nomad from Rachap Township, Payul County, Kandze Prefecture in Sichuan Province.

According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Sonam arrived in Lhasa in 2007 on pilgrimage and stayed there. He was arrested in mid October 2009, 17 months after he took part in protests in Lhasa.

A total of seven Tibetans have been sentenced to death for their roles in the 2008 protests. Two of them have been executed.