23 June, Kathmandu:
The Legislative Management Committee of the National Assembly has amended the Prevention of Corruption Act 2059, keeping punishment even for those proposing bribes.
The government had registered a bill in the National Assembly to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059 BS. In the bill, the government had proposed jail terms for those ‘directly or indirectly giving bribes or agreeing to give bribes’. But, the committee proposed punishment even for the one who proposes a bribe. Before, there was no law to punish those proposing bribes.
Anyone who accepts, gives or offers a bribe will face imprisonment up to 14 years. According to the punishment set by committee, a jail term of 1-6 months is made for receiving, giving and proposing bribes up to Rs 50,000; 6 months to 1 year for Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000; 1-2 years for Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000; 2-4 years for Rs 500,000 to Rs 2.5 million, 4-6 years for Rs 2.5-5 million; 6-8 years for Rs 5-10 million, 8-10 years for Rs 10-100 million; and 10-14 years for over Rs 100 million.
The bill including the amendments made by the committee is scheduled to be passed by the National Assembly Tuesday. Once passed by the National Assembly, it will reach the House of Representatives. If passed by the House of Representatives, it will get legal recognition.