The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The anonymous account Drukpa Dorje has alleged that there is an undeclared conflict of interest in the Economic Stimulus Plan (ESP) probe by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as the preliminary investigation was led by Kelden Jamtsho, who is the brother-in-law of a sitting PDP MP from Phuentsholing.
The Bhutanese took up this specific allegation with the ACC.
An ACC official said that the Kelden Jamtsho being the brother-in-law of the MP from Phuentsholing has nothing to do with the case as the MP is not under investigation.
The official said that if the particular MP was under investigation, then Kelden would not be involved in the probe by virtue of his relation.
The official said the allegation is attempting to look at a political angle in the case when the case is about loans and loan procedures.
The official said the allegation is farfetched and an aim to discredit the process and if such standards of conflict of interest are applied then it will never end in Bhutan.
The ACC official also pointed out that the investigation is being conducted by an entire team and regular updates have to be given to the interim-Commission which is currently made up of the three executives there.
It was also pointed out that the ACC’s definition of conflict of interest in the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bhutan Act 2011 is very clear.
The ACC Act under section 63 (1) says “Where a public servant or his or her relative or associate has a private or personal interest in a decision to be taken by a public agency, that public servant shall not vote or take part in a proceeding or process of the public agency relating to such decision.”
Section 63 (3) says a public servant who fails to comply with 63 (1) of this section shall be guilty of misdemeanor.
The official said there is no relation between the loan cases being investigated and the ACC investigation team.
