KATHMANDU: The Special Court has convicted 12 individuals, including the former chair of Arjun Chaupari Rural Municipality, over financial irregularities in a road construction project in Syangja.
The bench comprising Special Court Chair Tek Narayan Kunwar and members Ram Bahadur Thapa and Murari Babu Shrestha delivered the verdict on Wednesday.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a corruption case on December 31, alleging misappropriation of funds in the construction of a road slope and drainage system under Ward No. 1.
A technical report confirmed that the quality of the project, which was scheduled for completion in fiscal years 2018/19 and 2019/20, was substandard, leading to structural collapse and disrepair.
Following confirmation of irregularities amounting to over Rs 834,000, the court has sentenced six individuals to prison and imposed fines and compensation on others.
Former chair of Arjun Chaupari Rural Municipality, Dirgha Narayan Aryal, has been sentenced to three months in prison. However, considering his age, his sentence has been reduced by 50%. He has been fined Rs 332,000, with an equal amount to be recovered, and an additional Rs 13,000 in compensation.
Chief Administrative Officer Puran Gurung and Sub-Engineer Surya Prasad Paudel have also been sentenced to three months in prison, fined Rs 213,000 each, with the same amount to be recovered, and ordered to pay Rs 8,500 each in compensation.
Engineer Navin Thapa has been sentenced to three months in prison, fined Rs 332,000, with an equal amount to be recovered, and ordered to pay Rs 13,000 in compensation.
Former Chief Administrative Officer Kamal Prasad Gautam and Engineer Sudip Acharya have also been found guilty and sentenced to three months in prison. Both have been fined Rs 119,000 each, with an equal amount to be recovered, and ordered to pay Rs 5,500 in compensation.
The court has also found officials of the Consumers’ Committee involved in the irregularities. Chair of the District Headquarters Management Consumers’ Committee, Balkrishna Paudel, Secretary Krishna Prasad Kafle, and Treasurer Him Kumari KC have each been fined Rs 213,000, with the same amount to be recovered, and an additional Rs 8,522 in compensation.
Similarly, the Lower Bazaar Drainage and Slope Road Construction Users’ Committee Chairperson Mangaldevi Thapa Magar, Secretary Bishnukumari BK, and Treasurer Ek Narayan Devkota have each been fined Rs 119,000, with the same amount to be recovered, and an additional Rs 5,500 in compensation.
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