CIAA files another case against Sunil Paudel

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, July 12: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a corruption charge sheet against six individuals, including former Executive Director of the National Information Technology Centre (NITC), Sunil Paudel, and the World Distribution Nepal Pvt. Ltd. at the Special Court on Friday. 

According to the CIAA, the defendants embezzled approximately Rs. 158 million during the supply, delivery, installation, and commissioning of High Compute Infrastructure in the fiscal year 2019/20 for the. 

An investigation revealed that specifications were manipulated and overpriced equipment with substandard processors was supplied, violating procurement standards.

Although the bid called for Oracle ZFS Storage Appliances with 2.4 GHz processors, the delivered products had only 2.1 GHz processors, which are about 14.28 per cent less efficient. The CIAA claimed that this caused a loss of Rs. 158.85 million to the government.

The case also named NITC former Director Saphal Shrestha, Assistant Director Ramesh Pokhrel, Computer Engineer Ramsharan Gayak, Account Officer Nim Bahadur Wali, and Arun Shrestha, Chairman and MD of World Distribution Nepal as defendants. 

The CIAA has sought legal action against them under Clause 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002 with each facing a proposed fine of Rs. 158.85 million.