“We have decided to hold preliminary hearing on the case Sunday,” said the court´s Chairman Gauri Bahadur Karki, adding, “Court proceedings won´t be affected if the defendant failed to appear before the court.” [break]
As per the court´s summons, Kansakar had to appear before the court on February 14. However, the court has not issued arrest warrant against Kansakar as the law does not allow the court to do so.
“He missed the summons but he can still appear before the court and defend himself,” said the court´s registrar Dhir Bahadur Chand, adding, “If someone ignores the summons then it should be construed as admission of guilt.”
The court had issued first summons to Kansakar and five other senior officials for December 27. Kansakar had then refused to receive summons letter citing that the address mentioned in the letter was wrong.
Concluding that Kansakar and five others officials embezzled Rs 57.3 million by sending non-refundable money to the Airbus Company flouting Public Procurement Act, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a case against them at the Special Court on December 25.
According to officials, preliminary hearing scheduled for Sunday would decide on whether to release NAC officials on bail amount or to send them to the custody until the next decision of the court.
Meanwhile, a lawyer close to Kansakar has informed Republica that Kansakar is not in a mood to appear before the court until the lock-up money is not deposited at NAC´s bank account by 0Airbus.
“Airbus Company is ready to refund the lock-up money to NAC. It should have been deposited at the NAC´s bank account one week ago but this has not happened due to non-cooperation by some NAC officials close to Managing Director Kul Bahadur Limbu,” said a lawyer who has been pleading on behalf of Kansakar.
Except for Kansakar, four other NAC officials had presented themselves before the court as summoned. The court had sought Rs 1.5 million bail each from two officials and Rs 500,000 each from three others. Three NAC officials deposited bail of Rs 500,000 each.
According to the findings of CIAA investigation, the decision to release and forward Rs 57.3 million to Airbus was taken without the approval of the NAC board of directors.
Including Kansakar, the CIAA had filed corruption case against Acting Assistant General Managers Raju Bahadur KC and Ganesh Thakur, Acting Director Gyanendra Purush Dhakal, Director Mayur Sumsher Rana and Acting Deputy Director Keshav Raj Sharma.
Related story
High-profile corruption cases pending at Supreme Court for two...
_20240311121839.jpg)
