According to a CIAA source, the commission sought property details from those who are under its scanner, to check whether there was any unusual increment in their bank accounts and other property during the period when the Sudan scam was taking place.[break]
“The bank statements and other details to be furnished by high ranking police officers will help conclude our investigations into whether they earned unusual amounts of money through graft during the Sudan scam,” said the source, adding, “Such details will help substantiate facts in our investigations.”
The CIAA has sought bank accounts and other property details from 29 police officers ranging from inspectors to former and incumbent police chiefs.
The national anti-graft body has been investigating the Sudan scam following reports prepared by the State Affairs Committee (SAC) of parliament. Two investigation teams -- one led by lawmaker Pradeep Gyawali and another by home ministry officials -- had concluded that around Rs 300 million was embezzled while procuring armored personnel carriers (APCs) and other logistics for Nepali peacekeepers deployed in Darfur, Sudan.
Based on investigations by the two teams, SAC had held discussions on the matter and forwarded its report to the CIAA for further investigations.
The commission has already grilled chief of Nepal Police Ramesh Chand Thakuri and former chiefs Om Bikram Rana and Hem Bahadur Gurung over their alleged involvement in the scam. Twenty-six police officers who worked at the recommendations and procurement committees were interrogated by the CIAA.
CIAA investigations to date have disclosed that obsolete and sub-standard APCs and other logistics were supplied and payment made for such logistics without monitoring the equipment.
“We haven´t decided to initiate separate investigations into police officers´ property details though. We just want to check whether there was unusual increment in their bank accounts during the time of the scam,” said the source, adding, “However, we may initiate separate investigations into their property details if the situation so demands.”
According to the CIAA source, $ 700,000 was released to Assured Risks, an international supplier that supplied obsolete APCs during Thakuri´s tenure as police chief.
The CIAA three weeks ago had written to London-based Assured Risks, seeking clarifications. “We are awaiting the supplier´s reply. We will expedite investigations and file case at the Special Court immediately after we receive Assured Risks´ reply,” the source added.
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