Lawmakers demand jail term for evaders

KATHMANDU: 

Parliamentarians opined that the fake VAT bill scam is serious financial crime. Along with the Finance Ministry officials, who according to them, have disrespected Public Accounts Committee under Legislature Parliament meaning contempt of the Parliament, the traders should also be jailed according to law.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Keshab Nepal said that the Finance Ministry officials have disrespected the Parliamentary committee by hiding the detail information regarding VAT fraud scam. “Officials at the ministry should face action as they didnot provide the report when it asked,” he said.

Agreed chairman of the committee Dhan Raj Gurung. “The ministry officials have bypassed the PAC, which is contempt of Parliament,” he said, adding that the fake VAT bills producers should also be booked as it is a serious financial crime. “Cheating national coffer through producing fake bills is apparently criminal activity and persons involved in such activities should be imprisoned,” another PAC member Rabindra Adhikari said, adding that there is difference between fixing low revenue and producing fake VAT bills. “The state should not spare looters of national treasury,” he added.

Earlier on April 3, the committee had asked Finance Ministry to submit investigation report alongwith names of all firms, fines and actions prescribed against them. After the ministry’s denial, the PAC member on April 8 have labelled Finance Ministry as the ‘biggest criminal’ for protecting VAT defaulters.

However, the ministry has handed over the report to Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum on Sunday after the National Information Commission directed the ministry to respect right to information. The report revealed that some traders are looting government coffer faking VAT bills without any trading.

Meanwhile, the PAC has summoned Finance Minister, Finance Secretary and Chief Information Commissioner.

Source: THT