Former NOC chief Gopal Khadka release on bail has received a lot of attention in the newspapers on Wednesday. Similarly, news of Nepali ministers going to Geneva to defend the government’s transitional justice process has also been featured in the papers.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
NOC ex-chief out on 25-million bail
Annapurna Post, Nepal Samacharpatra, Republica and The Himalayan Times report that the Special Court has released former managing director of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), Gopal Bahadur Khadka on bail. Khadka, who has been charged with embezzling a huge sum during his tenure, was released on Tuesday.
A bench of Court Chairman Babu Ram Regmi and members Pramod Kumar Shrestha and Narayan Prasad Pokhrel passed the decision on Tuesday.
Earlier on January 7, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority filed a case against Khadka at the Special Court accusing him of amassing illegal property worth more than Rs 180.66 million during his tenure at the NOC.
Nepal to go to Geneva to defend transitional justice system
Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post reports that Nepal will make its case for the country’s transitional justice process at the 40th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, where it is expected to assuage the concerns of the international community on the completion of the remaining tasks of the home-grown peace process.
The government is taking the Council meeting as an opportunity to try to convince the international community that Nepal is capable enough of handling the transitional justice process on its own. This comes at a time while a lobby is active to bring back the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Commission for assistance to complete the ongoing transitional justice process.
Ignored
CIB plans to send Nirmala’s DNA sample to foreign lab
The Himalayan Times report that the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police is planning to send the vaginal swab of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta, who was raped and murdered on July 26, to a foreign country for more accurate DNA test results.
Experts have doubted the procedure adopted by the police for extracting DNA. Police negligence in the preliminary investigation into the case had come to surface after the National Human Rights Commission made public its report on the probe of rape and murder of Nirmala last month.
Two more judges involved in 33kg gold smuggling case
Kantipur reports the two more judges of Biratnagar High Court have been dragged into the 33kg gold smuggling case. Judicial Council has summoned judges Janak Pandey and Sadhuram Sapkota to question them further. With this, a total of eight judges have been found involved in the gold smuggling case.
Former SC justice duped by lawyer
Naya Patrika reports that former justice at the Supreme Court Pawan Kumar Ojha has been tricked by lawyer Gopal Siwakoti. Siwakoti, ‘a human rights activist’ tricked Ojha telling him he wants to open a law college. Siwakoti, along with his aide Badri Kumar Thapa, has been arrested by police. The Rs 27 million which was collected for the college was used by Siwakoti and Thapa for their personal purpose.
Nepal Police recalls bodyguards
Nagarik reports that Nepal Police has decided to recall bodyguards provided to ministers and other government officials. The bodyguards have been called back and put on regular duties. According to the Police Headquarters, the bodyguards were called back after it was found that they were being deployed against the rules. Over 150 bodyguards were deployed to protect 13 former home ministers.
Interesting
Nepal Army making profits in the real estate business
Naya Patrika reports that the Nepal Army through the Nepal Army Welfare Fund has been involved in a number of profitable businesses. The army already owns a petrol pump and a party palace and is also involved in road constructions and land plotting. The army recently bought land worth Rs 420 million and is planning to sell it by plotting it. The army has also bought plotted land in areas of Bhaktapur and Kathmandu.
Province-wise question papers for SEE
Naya Patrika reports that the SEE examination questions papers will be different for all provinces. The question papers for six main subjects will be different for every province while question papers for the optional subjects will have the same questions, regardless of the province. To make sure that the question papers don’t leak, over 72 security officials will be present while the question papers are being prepared.
Will only provide electricity for dry port after dues cleared: NEA
Nepal Samacharpatra reports the NEA has announced that it cannot supply electricity for the dry port being constructed in Chobar. NEA has written a letter to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation telling them that they cannot provide electricity for the dry port unless the outstanding amount was paid. A total of Rs 40 million remains outstanding in the name of Himal Cement Pvt. Ltd and the NEA say that it will not provide electricity until that amount is settled.
Dust settles on supercomputer
Nagarik reports that a ‘supercomputer’ installed at the Kathmandu University hasn’t been put to proper use. The officials at KU doesn’t know what they can use the computer for saying that the university doesn’t have large enough data. The computer was purchased for over Rs 10 million over six months ago and is being kept at KU’s IT park. The monthly cost of operating the computer is around Rs 400,000. KU officials believe that the computer might only come to proper use in the next 2-3 years.
