KATHMANDU, June 7: A rift between Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Secretary Bhagwati Kafle and two investigation officers has delayed bringing the Sudan scam case to the Special Court on Monday as planned.
CIAA officials had formally asked Special Court Registrar Dhir Bahadur Chand over the phone on Monday afternoon to wait till the last moment (of office hours) as they were filing case.
"CIAA spokesperson Ishwori Paudel phoned me to say they were filing case by Monday evening (before 5 PM)," said Chand, adding, "Paudel phoned again at 5 PM and said sorry for keeping me waiting."
The question arises why the anti-graft body could not file case at the Special Court even after informing in advance that it would do so? Was it due to inadequate time to prepare a charge sheet as claimed by CIAA officials or was it serious differences that obstructed them?
A source at the CIAA claims that the charge sheet is already ready. However, they are delaying the case due to serious differences between Secretary Kafle and investigation officers Dilli Raman Acharya and Ishowri Paudel over the names and numbers of those they want to indict.
"Secretary Kafle has been trying to indict nearly two dozen officials ranging from inspectors to former police chiefs," the source said, adding, "Kafle is so adamant that the two investigation officers are in a dilemma."
Filing of the case was further delayed Monday as a new dispute arose regarding the involvement of incumbent AIGs--Kalyan Timalsena and Arjun Jung Shahi.
According to the source, a document showing a slight involvement of the two AIGs in the decision making appeared abruptly at the commission Sunday evening from some ´unknown source´. Matters then took another turn, the source added.
The source at the anti-graft body claims Kafle is hell-bent on indicting the two AIGs also while the investigation officers argue that the AIGs were not responsible in the scam. "The two AIGs´ role was not crucial," the source quoted the two officers as telling Kafle.
The CIAA has been probing irregularities in the procuring of armored personnel carries (APCs) and other logistics for Nepali peacekeepers in Darfur, Sudan.
According to the source, the commission has already concluded that Rs 300 million, out of the Rs 440 million involved in the procurement deal, was embezzled.
Besides three former police chiefs ---Om Bikram Rana, Hem Bahadur Gurung and Ramesh Chand Thakuri and some other senior police officers, the anti-graft body has already decided to file case against Michael Rider, director of London-based Assured Risks company that supplied the APCs and other logistics, and Shambhu Bharati, local agent of the company.
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