Attorney General opens settlement route in cases where organised-crime charges fail
Summary
The Office of the Attorney General has allowed partial settlements in criminal cases where an organised-crime charge fails, while keeping organised crime itself non-compoundable. The revised circular has drawn concern from former judges and legal experts over possible misuse and pressure on victims.
Key Points
- The Attorney General’s Office has issued revised guidelines allowing settlements for eligible offences if an organised-crime charge is rejected and the ruling becomes final.
- Organised-crime charges themselves cannot be settled, but related compoundable offences such as fraud, cheque dishonour and some banking cases may be resolved.
- Former Supreme Court justice Balram KC and former attorney general Raman Kumar Shrestha warned the move could weaken criminal justice and be misused.
- The Supreme Court has previously said that the involvement of three or more people alone is not enough to establish organised crime.
