KATHMANDU, Aug 28: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday convicted former Joint-secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) Ananda Prasad Khanal of illegally amassing Rs 12.1 million money and sentenced him to 15 months in jail along with confiscation of the amount and a fine equal to that amount.
A division bench of Justices Kalyan Shrestha and Bharat Bahadur Karki issued the verdict after Khanal was found to have amassed movable and immovable property worth Rs 12.1 million through income from undisclosed sources while in office.
The apex court has concluded that Khanal had amassed property worth Rs 23. 6 million, while his income from legitimate sources was only Rs 11.4 million.
The Special Court on June 3, 2005 had convicted Khanal of illegally amassing Rs 12 million and had sentenced him to a year in jail along with confiscation of the amount and a fine equal to that amount.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed case at the Special Court on February 18, 2002 accusing Khanal of amassing Rs 23.6 million from illegitimate sources.
The CIAA also accused Khanal´s wife Padma Khanal and sons Anil Khanal and Abhash Khanal of being accomplices in Khanal´s crime.
In the verdict, the apex court has stressed the need for increasing civil servants´ salaries in line with inflation so as to discourage them from getting involved in corruption. The court said civil servants indulge in corruption when they find it difficult to meet their basic needs.
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