Four, including ex-NAC Chief, jailed in wide-body corruption case

KATHMANDU: The Special Court in Kathmandu has convicted four individuals, including former General Manager of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), Sugat Ratna Kansakar, of corruption in the purchase of wide-body aircraft.

The bench, comprising Chairperson Tek Narayan Kunwar and members Tej Narayan Singh Rai and Ritendra Thapa, delivered the verdict, finding them guilty of financial irregularities.

Sentences and Penalties

The court sentenced former General Manager Kansakar to two years and nine months in prison. Additionally, he was fined Rs 12.25 million, equivalent to part of the corruption amount of Rs 1.47 billion. As per the Senior Citizens Act, Kansakar is entitled to a 50% reduction in his prison sentence.

Similarly, former Chairman of the NAC Board and Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Shankar Prasad Adhikari, was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison. He was fined Rs 12.25 million, with an equivalent amount to be confiscated as part of the misappropriated funds.

Former Secretary and NAC Board Member, Shishir Kumar Dhungana, was handed a sentence of one year and six months in prison and fined Rs 12.25 million.

Likewise, former Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, received a one-year and six-month prison sentence and a fine of Rs 12.25 million. The court also ruled that Lamichhane must compensate for the misappropriated funds.

Foreign Company Representatives Convicted

The court found three representatives of foreign companies involved in the procurement process guilty. They were sentenced to one year and six months in prison, along with a fine of Rs 12.25 million each.

Acquittals

The court acquitted former Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Jivan Bahadur Shahi, and 27 other defendants, including two foreigners, clearing them of all charges.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a case against the defendants, alleging corruption in the wide-body aircraft procurement process.

This landmark judgment highlights the judicial system’s efforts to address high-profile corruption cases in Nepal.