Kathmandu, February 6

The National Vigilance Centre has advised the government to bring corruption of private sector under the purview of law.

The centre put forth this suggestion before the government through its annual report submitted today to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

It may be noted that private sector corruption is also the concern of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority which in its reports recommended that the government look into the matter.

The Centre, in the report, stated that Nepal was a party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the government should reach the private sector to intervene in corrupt acts prevalent in the private sector.

The Convention calls for preventive measures and the criminalisation of corruption in both government and private sectors.

But the government still does not seem serious about responding to the advice. No noticeable concern has been shown from anywhere to supervise private sector affairs. CIAA’s then chief commissioner Suryanath Upadhyaya had in 2004 signed on the UN document on behalf of Nepal.

NVC Spokesperson Bishnu Raj Lamichhane said though the private sector has been marred by corrupt acts, there is no regulatory body to deal with the issues. Government intervention in private sector corruption would contribute to good governance and this is the need of the time as well, he added.

The Corruption Prevention Act of Nepal- 2002 does not allow the Centre and the CIAA to look into private sector corruption. The public have invested millions of rupees in the private sector, and a wide range of corruption is estimated to be prevalent there. That’s why it should be brought under the purview of law.

A new law is not required to take preventive measures against private sector corruption; only a slight amendment to the Act is enough to pave the way for the government to look into the issues. “The way is possible if the definition of public post states that it does mean the private sector post as well”.

Banking, financial and transport sectors are all public sectors and they should be incorporated in the definitions of the Act.  CIAA spokesperson Rameshwor Dangal said the CIAA in its every report recommends that the government criminalise private sector corruption. Transparency International Nepal’s Chair and former administrator Khem Raj Regmi stressed the need to formulate a law to put a tab on private sector corruption as Nepal is already a member state to the UN convention.

“The private sector illegally pays a hefty amount to bureaucrats to influence them to take decisions in their favour. Corruption to the tune of millions of rupees, including tax evasion are prevalent in the private sector, such acts must be punished,” he said.