Weak laws protect corruption

The bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, shows the deteriorating political mentality in Nepal.

Lawmakers’ brazen but futile attempt to impose a five-year statute of limitations on corruption cases lays bare not only the extent of corruption in Nepal but also how far they will go to absolve the corrupt from wrongdoing. Members of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of parliament are working to finalise the bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, which is the prime corruption law of the land. After widespread public objection for weeks over the amendment, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak informed the committee in late August that the KP Oli-led government would no longer proceed with the proposed amendment. But the withdrawal raises more questions than answers.