CIAA files corruption case against chief of Nepal Telecom, 17 others

KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against 18 individuals, including former and incumbent managing directors of Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited, or Nepal Telecom, over alleged irregularities in the company’s billing system upgrade project.

The anti-graft body registered the charge sheet at the Special Court on Sunday, seeking recovery of Rs 334.8 million in financial damage caused to the state-owned telecom company by Nepal Telecom’s Managing Director Sangita Pahadi and former Managing Director Sunil Poudel, among other officials. Paudel was the managing director when the procurement was made, while Pahadi was the chief commercial officer.

According to CIAA’s investigation, the defendants were involved in misappropriating company assets and causing losses through corrupt practices while implementing the billing system upgrade project. The case includes both procurement irregularities and decisions made in breach of public interest.

CIAA spokesperson Yagya Raj Regmi said that of the total financial damage claimed, Rs 98.8 million is being directly sought from the defendants as recoverable losses.