The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has fired a salvo at immigration officials and their unions who are reportedly trying to influence its investigation process.

n a strongly-worded statement issued on Sunday, the anti-graft body criticised the unions for releasing a press statement in defence of the arrested officials.

Tara Prasad Pun, chairman of the Nepal Civil Servant Association (immigration chapter), Dharma Raj Neupane, secretary at the Nepal National Servant Nepal Civil Servant Union and Naiendra Kumar Poudel, acting chairman of the Nepal Civil Servant Union had issued the statement criticising the arrests of the officials claiming their innocence.

Terming the unions’ activities “irresponsible”, the CIAA said: “The press statement has greatly devalued the gravity of the crime committed by the officials. The commission will not deviate from its duty and responsibility.”

The commission said the officials have dishonored the Immigration Procedure 2056 by allowing 77 migrants without checking visas and work permits. The government has installed computers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) where immigration officials can confirm the details and veracity of the work permit.

Meanwhile, the CIAA on Sunday remanded 17 officials from the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) and 18 immigration officials to judicial custody for 15 days.

The immigration had on Saturday stopped around 100 Gulf-bound workers from going abroad for carrying work permits in the Arabic language. DoFE officials said a majority of them were re-joining old companies and had completed the legal process.

“This is the first time that the workers re-joining the old companies have been stopped at the immigration,” said DoFE spokesperson Divash Acharya. “Since these migrants already possess required documents, demanding translated copies do not make any sense,” he added. “The provision is mandatory for only those going for the first time to rule out chances of them being duped.”

Published on: 26 August 2013 | The Kathmandu Post