Judge-lawyer audio discussing bribe leaked in Nepal: Probe committee formed

Khalid Umar Malik
24 Jun 2022, 17:29 GMT+10

A three-member investigation committee has been formed to investigate an audio recording of a Kathmandu District Court judge and a lawyer discussing a monetary deal to release Ichcha Ra ...
On Tuesday evening, a TV channel aired a 10-minute audio recording of judge Raj Kumar Koirala and lawyer Rudra Pokharel discussing a deal to release Tamang.
The audio recording appears to be from last year, during the hearing on Tamang and other accused.

KATHMANDU, Nepal - A three-member investigation committee has been formed to investigate an audio recording of a Kathmandu District Court judge and a lawyer discussing a monetary deal to release Ichcha Raj Tamang, a businessman who is currently imprisoned.

On Tuesday evening, a TV channel aired a 10-minute audio recording of judge Raj Kumar Koirala and lawyer Rudra Pokharel discussing a deal to release Tamang.

The audio recording appears to be from last year, during the hearing on Tamang and other accused.

Tamang, a former lawmaker and founding chairperson of Civil Cooperatives, was arrested along with 41 others for embezzling public money worth Rs5.59 billion.

Following the audio leak, Acting Chief Justice Deepak Kumar Karki convened a meeting of the Judicial Council on Wednesday afternoon.

The lawyer and the judge can be heard discussing Rs20 million for them if Tamang is released on bail of Rs100 million.

Judge Koirala appears to be giving consent while seeking assurance from lawyer Pokhrel that "higher-ups" will give the go-ahead.

Pokhrel then promises to "fix" everything, from the chief justice to the Kathmandu District Court's lower judge.

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