SC issues stay order on RCCC probe; Rawal released (6:05 p.m.)
The Supreme Court in a stay order Tuesday asked the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) not to proceed with its action against former civil aviation minister and CPN (UML) leader Bhim Rawal on charges of irregularities in the leasing of a China South West Airlines aircraft some eight years back.
Rawal who was arrested this morning by plainclothes security men sent by the RCCC, was released following the court decision this afternoon. He was presented before a RCCC bench today but it was not immediately known if he recorded his statement.
A single bench of Supreme Court Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha issued the stay order. The SC in its statement said that at a time when the constitutionality of the RCCC was being questioned, its actions on a case which already decided by a constitutional body - the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) – could not proceed until a final court verdict came.
This is for the first time the Supreme Court mentioned about the constitutional ground of the RCCC formed by the King who assumed direct power on Feb 1 this year.
Rawal was handed a summon order by RCCC officials on Sunday. He was supposed to appear before the royal commission on Monday but opted to drag the anti-graft body to the court.
The RCCC has accused the former minister of irregularities by fixing the daily fare of USD 3150 while leasing the CSWA aircraft instead of USD 2800 as mentioned in the lease agreement. nepalnews.com mk/by Aug 30 05
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