KATHMANDU, JULY 23

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed chargesheet at the Special Court against 10 persons, including former chief administrative officer of Siddhicharan Municipality, for allegedly embezzling state funds during the procurement of electricity poles, wires and transmitter in the fiscal 2018-19.

Those facing the graft charge include former CAO Bhojraj Khatiwada, Ward No 10 Chair Damodar Dhamala, engineer Amrit Kumar Dahal and water supply and sanitation technician Dil Kumar Budhathoki of the municipality, Chief of Okhaldhunga Distribution Station under Nepal Electricity Authority Sanjeev Sah, storekeeper Bir Bahadur Rai, proprietor of Namami Suppliers Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, and user committee office-bearers Dik Kumar Dhamala, Deepak Prasad Dhamala and Gothi Maya Magar.

The anti-graft body had launched a thorough investigation into a complaint lodged against their alleged involvement in embezzling the budget allocated for electrification in Ward No 10 of the municipality through the user committee.

The findings of investigation showed that municipality officials had embezzled Rs 477,899 and forged invoices showing the procurement of necessary logistics for electrification despite having the receipt of such equipment from the NEA without any charge.

The defendants had colluded in a premeditated manner to cause financial loss to the state coffers. With the intention to embezzle funds and share the amount among Act defendants, they had projected proprietor of Namami Suppliers Sanjeev Kumar Yadav as a supplier of electricity poles, wires and a transmitter and prepared a work completion report for releasing the amount. 'The municipality officials released the amount for the goods that were never purchased.

The goods purportedly procured by them were provided by the NEA free of cost for electrification,' read a press release issued by the CIAA.

They have been charged under the Prevention of Corruption, seeking maximum punishment. If found guilty, they will be liable to a jail sentence, including the recovery of the embezzled fund in question and a fine equivalent of the amount embezzled.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 24, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.