What's up with this? Govt bearing Koirala's health checkup in Singapore
NepaliEconomy
lack of receipts
Nepalnews, 25-Feb-2010
The finance ministry has refused to reimburse the expenses incurred
during the treatment of former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress
president Girija Prasad Koirala in Singapore as the foreign ministry
could not supply bills of the cost, Nagarik daily reported.
The foreign ministry had corresponded to the finance ministry five
days ago to sanctions Rs 16 million in connection with Koirala’s
treatment cost earlier this week, about three months after Koirala’s
treatment in Singapore. However, the finance ministry refused to
sanction the amount saying it would be considered corruption to
sanction amounts without details and bills.
The finance ministry has suggested the foreign ministry to have the
Council of Ministers decide on it before it can sanction any amount.
We can’t sanction the amount without bills as it will be considered
abuse of authority, said a finance ministry official. If the Council
of Ministers decides so, then it will not be our mistake.
The Council of Ministers had already decided three months ago on
principal to bear the cost of Koirala’s treatment.
As per the decision, Koirala’s daughter Sujata Koirala, who is also
the incumbent foreign minister had withdrawn some money from the
Nepali embassy in Bangkok the foreign ministry as advance.
However, the finance ministry has not reimbursed the amounts to the
embassy and the foreign ministry due to lack of bills.
Reports say, the foreign ministry is hesitating to submit all bills as
foreign minister Sujata Koirala had spent money in unnecessary heads
then.