The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against Chief Customs Officer Ambikaprasad Khanal and other staff regarding gold concealed inside a BEP (bonded export package). Officer Khanal had prepared a report on the exchanged BEPs, but the CIAA accused him of withholding information. The District Court has convicted individuals involved in gold smuggling and designated customs personnel as government witnesses. Kathmandu, 14 Baisakh.
“On 19 Baisakh 2080, during routine warehouse inspection and verification of goods, it was observed that goods with different packaging were placed within the same BEP location, indicating exchange of items. When the office attempted to question Nasu Rewant Khadka to clarify the reason and purpose behind this exchange, he was unavailable and uncontactable under various pretexts. The chief customs administration therefore found it appropriate to immediately summon Nasu to the office for interrogation and, if a reasonable explanation was not obtained, to inform the investigative agency for further inquiry—this formed the basis of my report,” summarized the report prepared on 25 Baisakh 2080 by Chief Customs Officer Ambikaprasad Khanal of Tribhuvan International Customs Office.
The CIAA has accused Khanal and several customs staff of concealing information about the gold found hidden inside the BEP, thereby aiding gold smuggling. However, except for Nasu Rewant Khadka and office assistant Nirmal Kumar Bik, no direct evidence links other employees to the smuggling. Nevertheless, the CIAA has filed cases against most staff members without substantive proof. The charge sheet presented to the Special Court by the CIAA lists three charges against Khanal, the Undersecretary (Chief Customs Officer).
The CIAA’s charge sheet states, “The accused deliberately destroyed evidence and conspired to evade accountability for this crime, along with intentions to benefit from the sale of smuggled gold.” However, the charge sheet submitted to the Special Court does not demonstrate the existence of concrete evidence supporting these claims. Documents submitted in both the district and special courts reveal that only after Khanal’s report did the fact of gold hidden inside the BEP come to light.
Prior to Khanal’s report, the CIAA had not submitted any documents, evidence, or written material proving that gold was concealed in the BEP. The investigation targeted the Chief Customs Officer, who had inspected the suitcase suspected of gold smuggling and submitted the report regarding BEP exchange. Khanal later expressed to the CIAA that instead of commendation, he faced legal action, questioning the investigation approach.
“The case was initiated by the customs office to prevent further potential losses to the Government of Nepal, and I was fulfilling my legal responsibility and duty,” Khanal said in his statement to the CIAA. “In my view, instead of punishment, encouragement and recognition should be provided.”
