KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a money laundering case at the Special Court against former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Pradeep Adhikari, alleging that he accepted a Rs 17.1 million bribe.
According to the anti-graft body, Adhikari abused his official position in the approval, monitoring and payment of various CAAN contracts, resulting in corruption involving millions of rupees.
The CIAA alleges that Adhikari received the Rs 17.1 million bribe from Prem Prakash Dhakal, chief of Gayatri Nirman Sewa and Company, in return for facilitating contract-related processes.
The commission claims Adhikari attempted to conceal the illicit funds by purchasing a 13-anna plot of land in Lalitpur Metropolitan City-5 in his wife’s name. He is currently being held at Dillibazar Prison in connection with another corruption case.
According to the CIAA, the actual purchase price of the land was concealed by declaring only Rs 9.1 million in the sale deed, while the remaining Rs 17.1 million allegedly derived from the bribe was routed through various bank accounts to make it appear legitimate.
The commission concluded that the alleged acts constitute both corruption and money laundering.
The CIAA has sought recovery of Rs 17.1 million, a fine equal to the claimed amount, imprisonment, and confiscation of the 13-anna property under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, and the Asset (Money) Laundering Prevention Act, 2008.
The commission has also filed charges against Prem Prakash Dhakal, alleging that he paid the bribe. It has sought the same amount in damages, along with imprisonment, fines and confiscation of the property in connection with the alleged corruption and money laundering offenses.
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