Police submit report on Bhutanese refugees scam to prosecution, implicates 32

Kathmandu, 22 May:  Kathmandu; The police today submitted its finding to the Attorney General Office recommending trial of 32 people–half of them in custody– in the fake Refugee scam.

The report was submitted within the 60-day deadline it has to maintain under law. It was submitted to the district public prosecutor’s office.

The investigating team however, ignored the public pressure as none of them are being charged for Human trafficking/smuggling. All are being charged for fraudulent acts or organised crime.

Around 800 Nepalis had been approached by the gang with access to government offices, bureaucrats and high profile politicians promising that they would be sent to the U S as ‘Bhutanese refugees’ for which they had to pay certain designated amounts.

Altogether 16 people including UML leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Raymajhi and Nepali Congress leader and former Home Minister Balkrishna Khand are in custody, whereas the investigating team decided not to charge another former deputy Prime Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ whose aide Indrajit Rai is under custody and son Prateep Thapa is absconding.

Police said the fact that certain people  named by the people under investigation may have been left out from being charge-sheeted at the moment but it should not be taken as their being absolved.