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Nepal police charged with UN embezzlement scam | |
(about 21 hours later) | |
By Joanna Jolly BBC News, Kathmandu | By Joanna Jolly BBC News, Kathmandu |
Thirty-four former and current high-ranking Nepali police officers have been ordered to appear in front of a court to face embezzlement charges. | Thirty-four former and current high-ranking Nepali police officers have been ordered to appear in front of a court to face embezzlement charges. |
They are accused of stealing more than $4m (£2.4m) during the procurement of obsolete and sub-standard armoured vehicles for Nepali UN peacekeepers. | They are accused of stealing more than $4m (£2.4m) during the procurement of obsolete and sub-standard armoured vehicles for Nepali UN peacekeepers. |
It is one of the largest corruption cases to be brought in Nepal. | It is one of the largest corruption cases to be brought in Nepal. |
Nepal has a history of failing to prosecute high-ranking officials suspected of corruption. | Nepal has a history of failing to prosecute high-ranking officials suspected of corruption. |
Among those accused of fraud - which allegedly happened in the Darfur region of Sudan - are three former police chiefs and 24 serving officers. The serving officers were suspended from their posts when the case was filed on Tuesday. | Among those accused of fraud - which allegedly happened in the Darfur region of Sudan - are three former police chiefs and 24 serving officers. The serving officers were suspended from their posts when the case was filed on Tuesday. |
They were told on Wednesday to appear before a special court within the next 15 days. | They were told on Wednesday to appear before a special court within the next 15 days. |
"We can't comment on the investigation, but we are trying to manage the vacant posts as best as we can," said Nepal police spokesman Navaraj Dhakal. | "We can't comment on the investigation, but we are trying to manage the vacant posts as best as we can," said Nepal police spokesman Navaraj Dhakal. |
The corruption case took 19 months to prepare by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. | The corruption case took 19 months to prepare by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. |
However, Nepalis have criticised it for failing to charge the politicians who oversaw the procurement process, including three former home ministers. | However, Nepalis have criticised it for failing to charge the politicians who oversaw the procurement process, including three former home ministers. |
"The political leaders who have abused their authority almost always escape the net of the anti-graft body," wrote one editorial in a national newspaper. | "The political leaders who have abused their authority almost always escape the net of the anti-graft body," wrote one editorial in a national newspaper. |
The commission has also charged two contractors responsible for supplying the armoured personnel carriers (APCs). | The commission has also charged two contractors responsible for supplying the armoured personnel carriers (APCs). |
One of them, Briton Michael Rider from the company Assured Risks, said that his company was not responsible for supplying faulty equipment. He said that it had been badly maintained. | One of them, Briton Michael Rider from the company Assured Risks, said that his company was not responsible for supplying faulty equipment. He said that it had been badly maintained. |
"The problem in Sudan occurred because the vehicles were left unattended near the salty waters of Port Sudan and in extreme temperatures for a long time, without any daily, weekly and monthly service which is required on any APC," he said. | "The problem in Sudan occurred because the vehicles were left unattended near the salty waters of Port Sudan and in extreme temperatures for a long time, without any daily, weekly and monthly service which is required on any APC," he said. |
The 34 officers charged are expected to appear in court within the next two weeks. The commission has asked for sentences of up to 13 years for those found guilty. | The 34 officers charged are expected to appear in court within the next two weeks. The commission has asked for sentences of up to 13 years for those found guilty. |
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