CIAA Intensifies Anti-Corruption Drive: High-Profile Figures Among Defendants

Kathmandu. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a significant number of corruption cases against political office-bearers, elected representatives, and government employees holding public office over the past five years.

During this period, out of 166,520 complaints received, 121,943 (73.23 percent) were settled, leading to the filing of 798 cases. These cases involve 4,662 defendants, with a total claim of 31.52 billion 25 million 5 thousand 573 rupees.

The Special Court has established guilt in approximately 55 percent of these cases. In instances where guilt was not established, the CIAA has appealed to the Supreme Court in 719 cases. The Commission reported that the Supreme Court has upheld the CIAA's claims in nine of these reviewed cases.

Chief Commissioner Prem Kumar Rai and other officials assumed office on 2077 Magh 21. Compared to the fiscal year 2077/78, the statistics for complaints, settlements, and cases filed have shown an upward trend in the most recent fiscal year.

According to CIAA spokesperson Suresh Neupane, while there were 12,496 complaints and 46 cases filed with 230 defendants by Magh of the fiscal year 2077/78, the current fiscal year saw 28,416 complaints and 121 cases filed with 429 defendants by the end of Chaitra.

Of the cases filed in the fiscal year 2077/78, 68 percent resulted in convictions, whereas 48.85 percent of cases filed up to Chaitra of the current fiscal year have resulted in convictions.

Similarly, in the fiscal year 2078/79, 24,331 complaints were received, with a 70.56 percent settlement rate, resulting in 131 cases and 639 defendants. In the fiscal year 2079/80, 28,065 complaints were received, with a 66.98 percent settlement rate, resulting in 161 cases and 766 defendants, with a 33.43 percent conviction rate.

In the fiscal year 2080/81, 36,186 complaints were received, with a 76.59 percent settlement rate, resulting in 201 cases and 1,545 defendants, with a 65.67 percent conviction rate.

In the fiscal year 2081/82, out of 37,026 complaints, 80.22 percent were settled, resulting in 137 cases and 753 defendants, with a 52.67 percent conviction rate. The CIAA's 35th annual report, presented during the last parliamentary session, indicates that Bagmati Province has the highest number of complaints regarding federal agencies or officials.

The Commission believes that the success rate of bribery-related corruption cases has declined slightly since the Supreme Court's decision on 2078 Baisakh 8, which invalidated Rule 30 of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Rules, 2059, regarding 'sting operations'.

Spokesperson Neupane stated that since the Commission proceeds with cases based on received complaints, investigations, and existing legal provisions, they have no option other than to appeal the Special Court's verdicts.

Under Part 21 of the Constitution of Nepal, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority investigates allegations of corruption and abuse of authority by public officials and files cases in the Special Court if evidence of wrongdoing is found.

Beyond investigation and prosecution, the Commission employs preventive, promotional, and institutional capacity-building strategies to control corruption, upholding values of integrity, impartiality, fearlessness, professional excellence, and evidence-based prosecution, Neupane added.

High-ranking leaders, representatives, and senior officials among defendants

The defendants in cases filed by the Commission during this period range from former Prime Ministers to local level representatives. According to the Commission, there have been 102 defendants in this category between 2077 Magh 21 and the end of last Chaitra.

Defendants include former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in the Patanjali Yogpeeth land swap case, former Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Bahadur Shahi in the wide-body aircraft purchase case, former Minister of Information and Technology Mohan Bahadur Basnet in the Teramax purchase case, and former Ministers Rajkumar Gupta and Rajita Shrestha in the litchi orchard land bribery case.

Former Ministers Bhim Prasad Acharya, Deepak Chandra Amatya, and former Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat are defendants in the Pokhara International Airport construction irregularity case.

Additionally, the Commission has filed a case against former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara for alleged gold smuggling. Cases have also been filed against various provincial ministers, members of parliament, mayors, rural municipality chairs, and their deputies.

Furthermore, a case against former Chief Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal regarding excise stickers has been concluded. Cases have also been filed against former government secretaries including Ram Kumar Shrestha for illegal wealth accumulation, Shankar Prasad Adhikari for wide-body procurement, Sanjay Sharma for the National Payment Gateway, and Chhabi Raj Pant for the Patanjali Yogpeeth land swap.

Former secretaries Sushil Ghimire, Suresh Man Shrestha, Suman Prasad Sharma, and Bhesh Raj Sharma have been charged regarding inflated costs in airport construction. The Commission stated that cases have also been filed against various joint secretaries, directors-general, provincial secretaries, board chairpersons, members, and other employees.

Under the current amended provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2064, the Commission is also authorized to investigate money laundering offenses if elements of such crimes are discovered during corruption investigations.