[JURIST] According to Bhakta Bahadur Koirala, chairman of the anti-graft commission in Nepal [JURIST news archive], ex-prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba [Wikipedia profile] and former public works minister Prakash Man Singh have been sentenced to two years in jail and fined $1.26 million each for their roles in a scandal involving the $464 million Melamchi Water Project [official website]. The contractor, engineer, former secretary, and director of the project have also been sentenced and fined. Koirala stated, "They had given a contract to the private company which had insufficient working capital which did not pass the pre-qualification test as well." Deuba and Singh refused to recognize the commission, set up by King Gyanendra [Wikipedia profile] following his February takeover of Nepal's government, when charged with misappropriating funds [JURIST report] in May. Both men were found not guilty on those charges [JURIST report], but remained in custody over alleged involvement in the water project. AFP has more.