FORMER IGP OM BIKRAM RANA RELEASED

SUDAN SCAM
Ex-IGP Rana, contractor Bharati released
REPUBLICA
(Updated)
KATHMANDU, Aug 3: The Special Court (SC) on Wednesday ordered the release of former Inspector General of Police Om Bikram Rana and contractor Shambhu Bharati, two of the prime accused in the multi-million dollar Sudan scam.

The SC ordered their release after both of them deposited the bail amount of Rs 150 million each, as set by the court.

Bharati submitted the bail amount through bank guarantee while Rana secured the bail mortgaging land ownership certificates at the court


Proprietor of Bhagawati Traders, Bharati is also the local agent of London-based Assured Risks Ltd that supplied Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and other logistics meant for Nepal Police personnel serving at UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had pressed graft charges against 36 persons including Rana and Bharati accusing them of embezzling Rs 290 million in the controversial APCs procurement deal.





KATHMANDU, Aug 3: Pakistan stormed into the semifinal of SAFF U-16 Championship Football Tournament on Wednesday as the winner of group A with a 6-0 thumping over Maldives at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.

Pakistan also became the first team to make it through to knockout stage.

Striker Mohammed Bilal turned hero for the Pakistani colts who netted quadruple while Sher Ali scored twice. Pakitan succeeded to score five goals in the second half following an early fifth minute lead from Bilal. Pakistan netted four goals in the last 11 minutes.


Pakistan had defeated India 1-0 during the opener on Monday in the six-team contest.

In the one-sided match physically taller and stronger Pakistani players dominated the show from the beginning until the final whistle.

"We had expected big margin win and finally achieved it," delighted Pakistan coach Sajjad Mehmood said during the post match conference.

Four star Bilal´s excitement was no lesser than his coach. "We will return home with the trophy," said Bilal adding, "We had expected to beat them and we achieved it."nnnn