CIAA Proposes Investigating NRNs

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), accused of not fully utilizing the rights granted by law, has begun lobbying for the creation of legislation allowing it to investigate non-resident Nepalis (NRNs) as well.

In the bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act, currently under discussion in the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of Parliament, the CIAA proposed that it should be permitted to investigate corruption involving NRNs.

"This Act will be applicable throughout the states of Nepal and will also apply to Nepali citizens, government officials, as well as non-Nepali and non-resident Nepali citizens living abroad who are deemed corrupt under this Act," states the first point of the Commission’s recommendation to the committee.

If the Parliament accepts the commission's proposal, non-resident Nepalis will be subject to investigation for corruption, illicit wealth accumulation, and bribery/extortion, under the jurisdiction of CIAA.

Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, secretary of CIAA, noted that the terms "Nepali" and "non-Nepali" already exist in the current law. He explained that the goal is to clarify these terms further in the law.

"Corruption-related crimes are already being investigated," he told New Business Age.

"We are establishing a clear system so that anyone who commits corruption will not be exempt from action," he added.

Ramhari Khatiwada, chairman of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the Federal Parliament's House of Representatives, confirmed that the committee has received the commission's suggestion and that it will be thoroughly discussed. Khatiwada, in a conversation with New Business Age said, "The commission's input is just a suggestion. We will engage in an in-depth discussion in the committee and make a decision on whether to incorporate the proposed suggestion into law."

The previous government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal began granting Nepali citizenship to non-Nepali citizens, who were subsequently given financial rights. On Wednesday, the committee meeting discussed allowing the commission to investigate NRNs. During the meeting, participants argued that after granting economic, social, and cultural rights to non-resident Nepalis, as well as voting rights in elections, they should also be subject to investigation.

Most parliamentarians from both the ruling and opposition parties, including the Home Minister, were in favour of the commission's proposal. In the committee meeting, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak stated that it would be preferable for the commission to investigate such crimes saying, "It is better to address this issue as the NRNs can now invest in the economic sector."

CPN (Unified Socialist) MP Rajendra Pandey and CPN (UML) MP Raghuji Pant expressed solidarity to the commission's proposal, noting that corruption may increase after granting economic rights. However, they advised that a decision on the commission's proposal should be made only after determining whether the commission will be allowed to investigate the private sector.