Wednesday, March 05, 2008

CIAA decides to summon RCCC members

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has decided to summon five members of the dissolved Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) for interrogation over charges of corruption while they were in office.

A meeting of the CIAA, the constitutional anti-graft body, on Monday decided to interrogate RCCC chairman Bhakta Bahadur Koirala and members Hari Babu Chaudhari, Shambhu Prasad Khanal, Prem Bahadur Khati and Raghu Chandra Bahadur Singh, a highly-placed CIAA source told .

"We are sending letters summoning them shortly," the source further said, "Our investigators have already prepared questionnaires for them."

King Gyanendra had formed the RCCC through an ordinance after he seized power on February 1, 2005 ostensibly to deal with matters relating to corruption. The body was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on February 13, 2006, amidst vehement opposition to its formation both at national and international levels. RCCC had arrested scores of politicians, including former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, government officials and even private individuals, in the name of containing corruption.

The CIAA took its decision as recommended by a judicial commission led by former judge Madhav Ojha. The commission had recommended government action against RCCC officials for abusing power.

No comments: