The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority [(CIAA) Akhtiyar] has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against 16 individuals and two firms in relation to the procurement of the Telecommunications Traffic Monitoring and Fraud Control System (TERAMOCS).
Among those in the defendant is the former communication minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet and former Law Secretary Dhanraj Gyawali. The anti-corruption commission is seeking over Rs 3.21 billion in damages over the imports of the TERAMOCS system.
CIAA filed a case stating that NTA had prepared a false report of an unqualified bidder for the Request for Proposal for the purchase of the TERAMOCS gears. The authority also adds that NTA misused property by creating a possible structure that would allow access to the public’s information without proper legal provisions.
CIAA was investigating TERAMOCS corruption possibility for a while. Now, it has firmly reached the special court to file a case against top figures and firms.
TERAMOCS corruption case against top figures
The case over the TERAMOCS corruption is filed against some of the top figures. This includes former NTA chairmen Digambar Jha and Purushottam Khanal, then members Dhanraj Gyawaali and Tikaprasad Upreti, and directors Bijay Kumar Ray, Surendralal Hada, and Dipesh Acharya. The list also includes deputy directors Suresh Basnet, Harinya Prasad Bastakoti, Ram Panta, Sanji Adhikari, and Achyutananda Mishra.
Similarly, CIAA has also filed a case against two firms. They are consulting firm Vannerise Solutions is CEO Jamal Anouti, and its local partner Connection Trade Link Pvt, Ltd. and its chairman Dilip Kumar Gurung and Director Tej Prasad Kharel.
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Basnet and others are in hot water with CIAA and TERAMOCS
CIAA adds that former Communication Minister Basnet went beyond his jurisdiction and directed the implementation of the TERAMOCS-related issue not in the plan. This is when NTA submitted its annual program list for the FY 2074/75 to the Ministry of Communication, Information, and Technology for approval.
Following this, the then serving officials at NTA participated in carrying out the actions that conflicts with the order issued by the Supreme Court under writ no. 069-WO-0268 dated 21/10/2072.
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CIAA has demanded action on the defendants in accordance with Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059 BS.
TERAMOCS has been a controversial topic in Nepal, mostly for its ability to “tap phone calls”. However, both Ntc and Ncell expressed their disapproval for it. But now with CIAA formally filing a case over its purchase, its future remains in complete darkness.
But it’s a sad part that projects such as MDMS and TERAMOCS are planned without proper discussion. This only seems to waste taxpayers’ money for nothing.
What is your opinion on TERAMOCS, its failed implementation, and the corruption controversy? Do such instances cast doubt on the government’s capability to bring better tech and innovation in telecommunications? Do share in the comment box below.
