According to a highly placed source at the commission, they decided to seek clarification from the company before interrogating Nepal Police Chief Ramesh Chand Thakuri on alleged irregularities in the procurement and supply of APCs. [break]
"We have readied the letter and will send it to the company Tuesday," said a CIAA source, adding, "We are expecting detailed and factual reply from the company that will ultimately help us conclude our investigation."
According to the source, they have asked the company these questions: "Why did you supply obsolete and sub-standard logistics including APCs to Nepali peacekeepers in violation of the contract agreement? On what basis was the payment made? Who facilitated your getting the entire amount? Who were involved in releasing the amount to your company? Why should your company not be considered guilty?" reads the letter that is being sent to the company Tuesday.
The source said that the company´s reply will help determine facts in the case. "We will grill incumbent police chief immediately after we receive reply from the company. This could delay our investigation process," the source informed Republica.
As a local agent, Shambhu Bharati had dealt with police officers on behalf of the company in the logistics procurement and supplying deal.
The investigation report, which is near completion, prepared by the national anti-graft body states that those involved in releasing the money have been found guilty of ignoring the inspection aspect before forwarding the payment to the APC supplier.
The commission is also asking the company whether Nepali authorities inspected the logistics before paying money as required by the agreement. "Was there any attempt from Nepali authorities to inspect the security-related logistics or did your company dodge inspection attempts? What had happened? The company is hereby requested to furnish detailed and factual reply," states the letter prepared in the name of Assured Risks.
CIAA source disclosed to Republica that no follow-up was done on the APCs and other security-related logistics before sending the money to the company.
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 the APCs and other logistics for Nepali peacekeepers.
The CIAA has already interrogated more than three dozen police officers including two former police chiefs in connection with the procurement deal reached two years ago.
"We will come up with a decision on when to file case in the Sudan scam shortly after interrogating the police top brass involved in the payment process," the source said.
The UN had drawn the attention of the government to the insecure conditions under which Nepal Police peacekeepers have been working. In addition, the government was cautioned that the mission could be declared non-functional if APCs were not supplied to them at the earliest.
The CIAA had begun its investigation following the findings by the parliament´s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The PAC had recommended to the government to seriously investigate the scam.
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