CIAA takes 87 to spl court for ‘pocketing’ DDC funds

KATHMANDU, APR 16 - The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Monday filed cases against 87 individuals, including the acting Local Development Officer (LDO) of Dhanusha district, in the Special Court. They have been charged with misappropriating funds meant for 25 different projects in the district.

In the charge sheets, the anti-graft body has claimed that government officials, including acting LDO Laxmi Narayan Mahato and the accountant and the assistant accountant of the Dhanusa District Development Committee (DDC), were involved in embezzling Rs 11.3 million.

http://www.kantipuronline.com/2013/04/16/editors-pick/ciaa-takes-87-to-spl-court-for-pocketing-ddc-funds/370039.htm

According to CIAA spokesperson Krishna Dhungana, the officials were found to have carried out ‘low standard’ work while repairing and building roads. He added that the officials were also found to have produced fake bills without completing various projects.

The anti-graft watchdog based its charges on documents obtained from the DDC and findings of a CIAA field team that carried out investigations.

In February, the CIAA had launched investigations into the alleged misappropriation of Rs 300 million in the Dhanusha DDC.

The field team had interrogated representatives from the consumers’ committees involved in projects where corruption was suspected.

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development had suspended 12 officials last December in connection with the case.

Posted on: 2013-04-16 08:26 

http://www.kantipuronline.com/2013/04/16/editors-pick/ciaa-takes-87-to-spl-court-for-pocketing-ddc-funds/370039.htm