KATHMANDU: Envisioned to function as the decentralized administration mechanism in the federal system, the local levels are turning the places for misappropriation and corruption of late.
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has so far filed corruption cases against 32 people’s representatives till May 10 of the current fiscal year 2021/22.
According to CIAA sources, five people’s representatives including a mayor, ward chairman, and two ward members were arrested by the Commission while they were taking bribes.
CIAA has filed charge sheets for the elected representatives involved in illegal or unlawful activities including revenue leakage, payment of fake bills, bribery in the name of making dual citizenship, and land registration.
The list of the people’s representatives caught red-handed includes the mayor of a municipality in Rautahat and ward members of the Kathmandu Metropolis.
Mayor of Rautahat-based Dewahi Gonah Municipality Dharmendra Prasad Patel was arrested with a Rs 500,000 bribe while handing over the final bill to the service recipients.
Similarly, ward members Sonelal Sah and Umesh Rai of Sarlahi Ishwarpur Municipality Ward No. 11 were caught taking a bribe of Rs.150,000.
Likewise, Ram Bahadur Mahato, Ward Chairman of Mahottari- 5 for soliciting a bribe of Rs. 10,000.
Basanta Maharjan, a ward member of Kathmandu- 14, was also arrested along with a bribe of Rs 200,000. He is accused of taking bribes from the service recipient saying he helped in acquiring a land-ownership certificate.
The number of people’s representatives filed by CIAA so far is 32. There are mayors of two municipalities, one deputy mayor, three rural municipality chairpersons, two rural municipality vice-chairpersons, 14 ward chairpersons, four rural municipality executive members, and six ward members.
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