Going by the Anti-Corruption Commission’s Annual Report 2020-2021, more than one-third of the total complaints lodged during the reporting period did not qualify investigation. Of more than 450 complaints the commission received, more than 160 were dropped. According to the commission, the complaints dismissed were those that indicated the need to enhance the quality. The report was launched today.
As per the report, the commission received the maximum complaints through its website with 210. It comprises 46.6 % of the total complaints. Complainants used phone to report corruption the least with just five.
Of 289 complaints the commission qualified for investigation, the highest complaints were against the local government with about 127 cases.
The complaints were mostly regarding abuse of function, embezzlement, bribery, and resource management among others.
As per the Chairperson of the commission, Deki Pema, while 75 per cent of the complaints were baseless, for the remaining cases, investigations have been carried out and actions were taken.
“In some cases, strong actions have been taken and we acknowledge it,” she said.
According to the ACC, filing a complaint against anyone entails following proper procedure and should have all the required components.
The complaint should include the person’s details, facts of the corruption, place of occurrence, evidence of the complaints as well as the details of witnesses if any.
Anyone can report corruption. And to do so, a complainant can choose any of the six mediums through which complaints could be lodged. They are ACC Web, Wechat, WhatsApp, by Post, Telephone, and Walk-in.
To facilitate the reporting of corruption and to follow up on the complaints, the commission introduced dedicated phone numbers on January 4, 2021. A complainant can call 17 123 412 or 17 123 413 to lodge a complaint and follow up on earlier complaints.
In the meantime, the report states that ministries, the private sector, and corporations closely followed the local government in terms of allegations.
Pema Seldon Tshering
Edited by Chayku
