CIAA Summons German Firms as E-Passport Corruption Probe Deepens, Four Arrested
असार ४, २०८३ १३:१५
Kathmandu. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has intensified its investigation into alleged irregularities in the procurement and printing of e-passports, which has already led to the arrest of four individuals and the summoning of representatives of two German contractor firms.
Those arrested include Passport Department Director General Tirtha Raj Aryal, IT Director Sunil Kumar KC, former accounts officer Tulsi Prasad Acharya, and Manindra Raj Malla, representative of the German company Muehlbauer. Another contractor representative, Siddhartha Thapa of Veridos, remains absconding, and the CIAA has requested police assistance to locate and arrest him.
The investigation centers on allegations that contracts for printing 6.4 million passports were awarded to two German companies in violation of public procurement regulations. The Department of Passports had awarded a contract worth Rs 6.11 billion to Veridos GmbH and another worth Rs 1.55 billion to Muehlbauer ID Services GmbH.
As part of the investigation, the CIAA has issued a public notice directing the two companies and their officials to appear before the commission. The notice was issued under Section 43 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, following the arrests of officials and local representatives linked to the case.
The commission has instructed company representatives to appear physically or virtually before its Tangal office within the specified timeframe. Those summoned include Gerhard Maurer and Pavle Rakic, who signed the contract for the procurement of the eMRTDs system under Package 1 on behalf of Muehlbauer ID Services GmbH.
Similarly, Fabiola Bellersheim and Florian Pasqualin of Veridos GmbH, who signed the contract for the procurement of eMRTDs booklet under Package 2, have also been directed to appear before investigators.
The CIAA has warned that failure to comply with the notice could result in further legal action under Nepal’s prevailing laws. It has also indicated that other senior officials and representatives connected to the procurement process remain under investigation.
Meanwhile, the Special Court has granted four days of judicial custody for Director General Aryal and Director KC, who were arrested on Monday, beginning on June 15. Accounts Officer Aryal and contractor representative Malla, arrested on Wednesday, have been remanded for three days.
According to Special Court spokesperson Krishna Sharan Lamichhane, the detention periods of the accused have been aligned, and any request for an extension will require them to be produced before the court again on 19 June. Other individuals implicated in the case have been summoned on designated dates for questioning.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: असार ४, २०८३ १३:१५
