Press Release (unofficial translation)
Withdraw the proposed amendment to pardon corrupt persons
The draft bill recently made public by the Government of Nepal to amend the Criminal Procedure Code 2074 BS removing the existing provisions related to non-pardonable offenses under Section 159 of the Code has drawn serious attention of this institution.
The existing Code provides clearly that the convicts of the offenses of serious nature including corruption, money laundering, torture, rape, murder, etc. shall not be pardoned. However, if the proposed amendment is passed, the law will open the door for the government to pardon such offenders too and the law itself will allow a situation to further encourage corruption, misrule, and anarchy already prevalent in the country. Therefore, Transparency International Nepal strongly urges the government to maintain the existing provision of not granting amnesty to serious criminal offenders, including corruption and money laundering in the proposed amendment.
Thank you.
Madan Krishna Sharma
President
31.07.2025
