19 officers among 173 army personnel court martialled

Kathmandu, November 29

A nine-member military court formed under a major general of Nepali Army today found 173 personnel, including 19 officers,  guilty of irregularities and/or wrongdoing.

The military court, however, acquitted 14 army personnel, including four officers. A Court of Inquiry formed on May 20  had recommended court martial against 187 army personnel, including 23 officers, accusing them of committing irregularities during recruitment of staff in  2017 and 2018.

According to a press release issued by NA, the court ordered the administration to recoup Rs 32,275,000 from the guilty.

Spokesperson for Nepali Army Gokul Bhandaree said if anybody who had been held guilty wanted to challenge their conviction, they could do so in the court of appeals.

The military court slapped a six-year jail term on two non-officer level army personnel rendering them ineligible for government jobs. As per the military court’s verdict, six personnel, including two officers, will have to serve jail sentence between 35 days and three years. They were, however, not rendered ineligible for government jobs.

According to Nepali Army, two personnel, including an officer, will have to pay part of the amount in question, as well as fine. They were, however, not rendered ineligible for government services.

The military court ordered sacking of a non-officer level post holder without rendering him ineligible for government jobs. As per the court’s decision, a non-officer level post holder will have to pay part of the amount in question and will be ineligible for promotion for four years.

A total of 101  army personnel, who were recruited in violation of eligibility criteria, will lose their jobs but remain eligible for government jobs. Five army personnel below the officer-level rank will not be eligible for promotion from two to five years.

Thirty-seven personnel, who were found guilty of financial irregularities, will not be promoted for at least three years. Seventeen army personnel, including 16 officers, will be served warning letters for not fulfilling their official duty; one non-officer level post holder was demoted.