The establishment of a new bribery commission is being delayed due to a serious legal obstacle, reports said.
This commission is to be set up as per the anti-corruption act no. 9 of 2023 adopted by parliament and certified by the speaker on 08 August.
The justice ministry should issue a related gazette notification, which is yet to be done either.
Serious contradictions have now been found in certain clauses of the act.
The act says the bribery commission should be appointed on recommendation by the Constitutional Council.
It also says the appointing of the commission’s director general is the responsibility of a constitutional board, which is non-existent.
The secretary to the president chaired a meeting a few days ago with attorney general’s department officials to discuss the matter.
An advice by the additional solicitor general to amend the act again in order to appoint the bribery commission is yet to be finalized.
In case of appointment of the commission notwithstanding these legal contradictions, several parties are preparing to challenge it in courts.
