Nepal's King Gyanendra set up a judicial commission on Friday to investigate properties owned by the country's current and former prime ministers, ministers, lawmakers and top bureaucrats to find out whether they have wealth that exceeds their public income. King Gyanendra gave the commission, headed by Supreme Court Justice Bhairab Prasad Lamsal, six months to complete its job.
Politicians and bureaucrats in Nepal are often accused of accepting bribes for granting contracts.
The probe would cover those who have held government positions since the restoration of democracy in 1990.
Two former Supreme Court judges, Udaya Raj Upadhyaya and Gyanindra Bahadur Shrestha, are also members of the commission. The government should show courage to punish the corrupt, said Subash Nemwang, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
The government also is drafting a bill that would empower authorities to seize the assets of those who have unaccounted wealth illegally.
Bureau Report