Arbitrary compensation claims undermining prosecution of economic crimes in Nepal
Summary
Unrealistic compensation claims in corruption cases in Nepal are undermining economic crime prosecutions, with courts often rejecting excessive damages alleged by the government and CIAA.
Key Points
- A case involving 54 individuals accused of corruption in Pokhara airport construction claims Rs 8.36 billion compensation per person, which is excessively high compared to the total government loss.
- The Office of the Attorney General's task force found that arbitrary and exaggerated compensation claims weaken prosecution efforts and cause harm to defendants.
- Courts, including the Supreme Court, often reduce claimed compensation amounts drastically due to lack of objective evidence and improper calculation methods.
- Proposals for legal amendments aim to standardize compensation claims to improve prosecution success and ensure fairness in economic crime cases.
