The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Like any other organization, the pandemic has impacted the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) with case investigations and in many areas of their mandates, responsibilities and functions.
Given the protocols, they were not able to summon the accused for interrogations whereby they have many cases waiting for the pandemic to end.
ACC Commissioner Jamtsho said that once they receive a complaint they process the complaint through three tire process and at the end of the process the complaints either qualify for investigation or it is shared with the respective agencies for action.
However, “In some cases, the complaints are inconclusive. In order to have an appropriate decision made on the case, we have to look for additional information wherein our people have to go to the field or agencies,” he added.
There are around 30 to 40 cases of such complaints awaiting information enrichment to be done, but their people have not been able to go in the field to collect the additional information for an appropriate decision, he said.
He further said that though they have many thematic advocacy plans across the Dzongkhags, they were not able to do it, however, they are trying to do it virtually.
“We have prepared our strategic road map and to begin with, we have established three regional offices in Phuentsholing, Bumthang and Trashigang. Although we are ready we have not been able to really initiate the operation due to the pandemic,” he added.
The pandemic in general has had lots of negative impact on the commission whereby there are lots of pending works, he said.
Meanwhile, he said that people have many choices to submit their complaints.
