Kathmandu: Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav has endorsed an ordinance on organised crime forwarded by the caretaker government led by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
The legislation is expected to give the police teeth to handle organised crime and also help the country to escape from being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) the global anti-money laundering watchdog.
Currently, the police are facing difficulties in filing strong cases against criminals involved in organised crime as most of them are tried under Public Offences Act which is regarded as weaker.
"If three or more people in a group commit a crime or are involved in destruction of public property the Organised Crime Act will be attracted and the police will prosecute them under the organised crime act," according to officials at the Ministry of Law.
Nepal had committed to FATF that it would approve the bills, Mutual Legal Assistance Bill, Extradition Bill and Bill on Organised Crime on three key UN conventions through parliament by December 2010 but they remained pending.
The constituent assembly that also acted as a parliament was dissolved on May 27 last year forcing the government to recommend ordinances to the president.
The president had approved the Mutual Legal Assistance Bill and Extradition Bill last year in July.
PTI
