The CIAA, in its charge sheet, has set Rs 405,000 as the amount to be claimed from Karki and Udasin, saying they took bribes of Rs 405,000 in total from a youth, assuring him of appointment as a police inspector.[break]
"We have demanded that Rs 405,000 should be recovered from Karki and Udasin," informed Ishowari Poudyal, Spokesperson of the CIAA, adding, "We have also demanded four years and six months´ imprisonment for Karki and one year and six months for Udasin."
An investigation team from the CIAA, acting on a tip-off and led by Superintendent of Police Birendra Shrestha, had arrested Karki and Udasin red-handed on August 30 from a rented room at Bhimsengola.
The duo was arrested while accepting Rs 100,000 in bribe from the youth.
"Both Karki and Udasin, while recording their statements before the commission, confessed that they accepted Rs 405,000 in total as bribes from the youth," informed Poudyal, adding, "We therefore set the aforesaid amount as the claim amount from the duo."
As per provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act 2059 BS, Karki and Udasin, if proved guilty, would each be liable to one year and six months imprisonment.
But provisions of the Act also stipulate that if a person was appointed by a constitutional body that person would have to face three more years in imprison.
Karki was formally appointed CA member and awarded certificate of membership by the Election Commission, a statutory body.
As per Clause 33 of the Anti-Corruption Act, Karki should have been automatically suspended from the CA the very day he was arrested red-handed. "CA Chairman Subas Nembang should have suspended Karki after we informed him about his arrest red-handed," Spokesperson Poudyal said, adding, "We are suprised that Karki has still not been suspended."
The CIAA has prosecuted Udasin also as per the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, accusing him of supporting Karki in accepting the bribes. Those abeting anybody in corruption are regarded as accomplices and have to face legal action along with the main offender.
Both Karki and Udasin were arrested from Udasin´s rented quarters at Bhimsengola.
Earlier, the Special Court had remanded Karki and Udasin to custody until September 20 as per a request made by the CIAA.
Karki, considered a close aide of UML leader Bamdev Gautam, was elected to the CA from Syangja under the proportional system.
Udasin´s wife had recorded a statement at the CIAA on behalf of her husband. CIAA investigating officers agreed to take a statement from Udasin´s wife after Udasin told them he was unable to record a statement himself as he was blind.
"That was the third time that Karki received Rs 100,000 in bribe from the youth. He had received Rs 100,000 as a first tranche and Rs 200,000 in the second tranche," states the charge sheet.
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