Following preliminary hearings, the SC full bench chaired by Gauri Bahadur Karki and including members Om Prakash Mishra and Kedar Chalise decided to seek bail from Gurung. The bench slapped a bail amount in line with the amount of money involved and gravity of the offence alleged. [break]
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had concluded that US $ 900,000 was released to contractor International Assured Risks Pvt. Ltd. while Gurung was IGP.
CIAA had filed a case against 34 police officials including Gurung and two contractors, accusing them of embezzling Rs 290 million while planning, procuring and paying for armored personnel carriers (APCs) and other logistics supplied to Nepali peacekeepers in Darfur, Sudan.
"Preliminary evidence substantiates that Gurung endorsed a plan and signed a document to release payments for obsolete, sub-standard and non-functional APCs, spares and other goods despite objections from AIG Shyam Singh Thapa and DIG Rajendra Singh Bhandari," states the order, adding, "The court will come up with a final verdict whether Gurung was involved in corruption. For now the bench decides to slap bail."
Office hours were already over when the court issued the order and so Gurung couldn´t deposit the bail amount. Sources said Gurung will deposit the amount through bank guarantee on Friday.
Before beginning the hearing in the case, the court had recorded Gurung´s statement in connection with the scam. Gurung appeared before the Special Court to defend charges filed against him after the court issued a summons notice.
Lawyers Krishna Prasad Prasai and Rudra Prasad Kharel, who pleaded for Gurung, said he endorsed and signed the payment documents in good faith.
Meanwhile, former additional inspector general (AIG) Dipendra Bahadur Bista was released on a Rs 10 million bail Thursday.
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