Public hearing on wide-body aircraft purchase scam tomorrow

KATHMANDU, May 24: The Nepali for Nepal Campaign is going to organize a public hearing on the ‘wide-body aircraft purchase scam’ at local Basantapur Dabali on May 25.

Organizing a press conference at Reporters’ Club Nepal on Thursday, civic rights campaigner Dr Surendra Bhandari said that the public hearing is being held to inform the general public regarding the alleged corruption involved in the purchase of two wide-body aircraft for Nepal Airlines, the national flag-carrier.

The Nepal Airlines had purchased two Airbus A 330-200 from the High Fly-X Ireland Ltd.

A subcommittee formed under the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives to probe into the procurement process has concluded that Rs 4.35 billion was embezzled in the wide-body aircraft purchase.

Citizens and experts on the subject would participate in the public hearing.

Campaign coordinator Sukadev Bhattarai demanded that the report submitted by a parliamentary investigation committee on the wide-body purchase scam should be implemented.

Campaign member Dr Thakur Mohan Shrestha expressed commitment that they would bring the truth related to the ‘wide-body aircraft purchase scam’ to light.

He added that the report would be made public with the help of experts. Senior advocate Balkrishna Neupane also reiterated that the truth behind the corruption scandal related to the purchase of two wide-body aircraft for the national flag-carrier would be exposed through the public hearing.