Former IGP Thakuri surrenders, sent to prison
Kathmandu, July 4
Former inspector general of police Ramesh Chanda Thakuri, who was convicted in the Sudan scam, was sent to Dillibazar prison today after he surrendered before the Supreme Court.
On 30 April 2017, the Supreme Court had convicted Thakuri, two other former inspectors general of police — Om Bikram Rana and Hem Bahadur Gurung — and senior police officials in the multi-million dollar Sudan scam. The SC had imposed one-year jail term and Rs 40,000 fine on Thakuri.
According to SC Information Officer Devendra Dhakal, Thakuri filed a review petition today at the SC, demanding leave for posting bail during the adjudication of his petition but his request was turned down. “Had it been a case of appeal, the court might have considered his petition but since it was a review petition, the court decided that he should be sent to prison till his case was adjudicated,” Dhakal told THT. Thakuri won’t qualify for any jail term waiver as he challenged his conviction in his review petition, said Dhakal.
Thakuri had spent two days in custody during the trial and hence two days will be deducted from the term he will have to serve. Thakuri had served as IGP from February 2009 to May 2011.
Rana, who was imposed two-year jail term, and Gurung, who was imposed one-year jail sentence, have already served their sentences.
The SC had found Thakuri, Rana, Gurung and other defendants guilty of embezzling funds and sending sub-standard logistics to Sudan for police personnel deployed for the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission.
Defendants were accused of supplying sub-standard Armoured Personnel Carriers to members of Nepal Police deployed in the United Nations Mission in Sudan.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sushila Karki and Bishwambhar Shrestha had convicted Thakuri and other former police officials.
The apex court had also convicted former AIGs Shyam Singh Thapa and Dipak Singh Thangden, former DIG Dipak Kumar Shrestha and former SSP Ravi Pratap Rana of corruption. The court had, however, acquitted 27 defendants in the case.
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