KATHMANDU, Feb 21: Legal experts have said Prime Minister KP Oli should demonstrate his accountability toward the parliament by immediately launching an investigation into the alleged involvement of his cabinet colleague Gokul Baskota in the bribery scam.
“The prime minister should address the parliament and express his commitment to investigate the case as part of the prime ministerial accountability to the parliament,” said advocate Bipin Adhikari.
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Advocate Adhikari argued that Prime Minister Oli should announce a parliamentary probe committee and express commitment to hand over the case to the Commission for the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) once such an investigation is over. “Seeking bribe by an incumbent minister is a criminal offense. It is simply not possible for one individual alone to be involved in corruption case worth billion of rupees,” he further said.
Similarly, advocate Om Prakash Aryal said the case will be a test of for the CIAA. “As per clause 3 of the Corruption Control Act 2059 BS, anyone accepting or agreeing to accept a bribe of more than Rs 10 million can be jailed for 8 to 10 years and fined a sum equal to the embezzled amount. Let’s see what will the CIAA do now,” he said.