CIM urges govt to adopt hearing-first policy as arrests of industrialists rise

BIRATNAGAR: Chamber of Industries Morang (CIM) has voiced serious concerns over a wave of arrests targeting industrialists and businesspeople. It called for a change in how financial investigations are conducted.

In a formal statement, the chamber said the law must ensure no guilty party escapes and that innocent people are protected from injustice. It said financial allegations should be treated differently from criminal charges and urged a hearing-first approach. Detention should be used only after investigations substantiate charges.

The business body said the current government's policy of detention before a hearing has created an environment of fear and confusion. It said this contradicts the government's stated commitment to regard the private sector as an essential partner in national economic development and prosperity.

"It is our firm belief that criminal and financial charges should not be treated as being of the same nature," the statement read. "Regarding financial allegations, a policy should be adopted to conduct a hearing first, and detention should only occur if the charges are proven true through investigation."

The CIM said business owners who operate within the law deserve judicial fairness and reminded the government of its promise not to cause unnecessary distress to the business community. It urged investigative methods that allow individuals to remain out of custody during financial inquiries.

The chamber has appealed to authorities to ensure the private sector can operate without fear, saying the legal principle of 'hearing first' is necessary to sustain a healthy industrial climate.