CIB Arrests Two More in E-Procurement System Tampering Case

Kathmandu. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested two additional individuals on charges of gaining unauthorized access to the 'E-Government Procurement' system used in government bidding processes and altering tender details.

They were arrested based on a complaint alleging unauthorized entry into the Public Procurement Monitoring Office's system to manipulate documents before the financial proposals for tenders were opened.

The arrested individuals are 30-year-old Swadesh Pokharel, a shareholder and accountant at E-Con Pvt. Ltd., and 41-year-old Prakash Dhungana, the operator of Kalpabriksha Builders Pvt. Ltd. According to police, Pokharel was arrested on Baisakh 12 from Pepsi Cola, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-32, and Dhungana was arrested on the 13th from Balaju, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16.

A case has been registered under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063, and further investigation is underway with permission from the Kathmandu District Court. Spokesperson and Senior Superintendent of Police Shiva Kumar Shrestha stated that the Bureau has also initiated further investigation against them under the recently amended 'Organized Crime Prevention Act, 2070'. Several other contractors have already been arrested in connection with this case.