STN says it was contacted for ‘monetary favour’Jamim Shah says he was asked for bribeHimalayan News ServiceKathmandu, April 11In a dramatic turn of events, Space Time Network (STN) on Thursday brought forward evidence revealing the involvement of a senior communication ministry official in bribery.Jamim Shah, managing director of the STN — appearing before the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday — presented a recorded conversation where acting secretary at the ministry of information and communications Prabhakar Adhikari is asking for financial favours.Adhikari during the conversation with Shah has asked for Rs 700,000 for pushing ahead the network’s file. “I’ll call after your work gets done,” he has said adding, “You complete your job then I’ll do my work.”Adhikari during the course of the conversation also assures Shah of pushing ahead the document convincingly if he gets monetary favour. “Speeding up or slowing (the process) is up to you,” he says further.Office of the Auditor General in its report had pointed out unaudited Rs 770,000 in STN’s name. Adhikari also claims to have taken off the burden from Shah, by relieving him of the scrutiny of Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). Apparently, of others, that is the amount which Adhikari demands during the conversation with Shah.Shah however, pushes aside Adhikari’s offer to resolve matters at the political level as well. According to Shah the recorded call was made from the communication ministry.Responding to the questions put forth by the PAC members, Shah said he’s not violated any regulations and has been paying revenue and renewing licence annually. “I’m fed up and I’m mentally prepared to close down the business (if the government decides so),” he said. “What mistake have I committed? Let anyone prove my fault,” added an emotional Shah.The parliamentary committee had summoned him in connection to the recommendation forwarded by its subcommittee. The committee on Wednesday’s meeting had decided to seek opinion from the concerned quarters. Besides seeking information from STN and two the then communication ministers, PAC had also decided to delve into the subcommittee’s report and parliamentary Development Committee’s decision reached a year ago.The Development Committee stating that all the process involved as complete had directed the concerned government agency to move ahead with technological inspection. The committee had stipulated two weeks time frame for the inspection and commencement of transmission.The PAC subcommittee headed by lawmaker Hridayesh Tripathi on April 2 however, recommended, “The committee (PAC) should direct ministry for information and communications to take actions against Space Time Network and other companies which have been operating without obtaining permission from the government.”The subcommittee had presented the report in connection to the operation of the STN’s television channel Channel Nepal — which has been broadcasting its programmes from Bangkok.According to the report, in the five years after it started operating the STN has paid royalty of 2.5 per cent in the first two years, three per cent in the third year, 3.5 per cent in the fourth and four per cent since the fifth year, however, without clearly mentioning the number of customers and their monthly payment to the company. “This has created confusion about the royalty the company should be paying,” it said. “The ministry should be directed to seek information and get the royalty amount.”PAC had initiated investigation into the “irregularities” while bringing in the transmission equipment without paying duty. It had requested the ministry’s permission to import equipment for the studio and distribution, free of import tax to which the ministry had granted permission.