OM PRAKASH KHANAL
BIRGUNJ, August 7

Lack of progress in the investigation against Birgunj-based Integrated Check Post’s officials, who had allegedly given customs clearance to processed palm oil in the guise of semi-processed oil, has raised suspicion of efforts to influence the investigation.

The Department of Customs had started the investigation against customs officer Sunita Paudel and examiner Ramesh Majhi last month after finding out that the consignment of processed palm oil imported by RMC Foods was cleared by the customs office as semi-processed palm oil, for which the imported had to pay less customs duty.

The officials had given the clearance without examining the oil, against the directive of the department. 

Traders are found lying about their consignment as they are charged 10% import duty on semi-processed palm oil and 15% on the processed one, department officials say. The alleged officials were suspected of colluding with the traders. 

The palm oil imported by RMC Foods was given the customs clearance by charging 10% customs duty and 13% VAT.

Customs Officer Paudel and examiner Majhi were summoned in writing on July 14 to the department for further inquiry.

Dhundi Prasad Niraula, director general at the Department of Customs, had earlier told New Business Age the department’s Investigation and Compliance Branch was tasked to move the investigation forward and submit a report in three days. But, the branch has not submitted the report till date.

There has been no progress in the case even after three weeks, according to the department sources. 

Niraula, however, argued that the two officials were visiting the department daily and the investigation was ongoing.

After discovering that traders were avoiding revenue by labelling processed oil as semi-processed, the Department of Customs directed its subordinate offices to approve inspections only through oil testing. 

The ICP Customs has now started an investigation into a suspected collusion involving an employee, as the raw material got customs clearance without a laboratory test report.

Multiple attempts to reach Deputy Director General Ramesh Aryal, who has been assigned to carry out the investigation, for comments on the matter were unsuccessful.

A senior official of the Department of Customs said that the investigation is being delayed to exempt employees who are under investigation for causing a revenue loss.

Individuals aware of the matter said that attempts were being made to protect the two officials from any proceedings as they happen to be the members of the employee union close to the ruling political party.

They argued that the investigation could be influenced by the transfer of DG Niraula, who started the investigation.

"Since the DG is going to be transferred, there has been a delay in the investigation," the senior official said on condition of anonymity.