Fake Bhutanese refugee scam: Government attorneys making response pleading

Kathmandu: The government attorneys have started giving the response pleading with the conclusion of the pleadings on behalf of the accused in a case of collecting millions of rupees alluring people of sending them to the US in the name of fake Bhutanese refugees.

'The government attorneys will today respond to the legal questions raised by the lawyers pleading on behalf of the accused one and the time until 1 pm has been set for this purpose', said Laxman Upadhyaya Ghimire, the District Attorney and spokesperson for the District Government Attorney Office.

Chief of the District Government Attorney Office, Joint Attorney Achyut Mani Neupane, District Attorney Ghimire, District Attorney Mahesh Prasad Khatri, and Assistant District Attorney Nirmala Marasini will be making the responsive pleading at the Kathmandu District Court today.

Ghimire said that they are preparing to conclude the pleading before 1 pm. It is said the court order regarding whether or not the accused should be held in custody is expected by the evening today. Generally, the court decision regarding whether or not the accused should be held in custody is made the day the responsive pleading by the government attorneys concludes.

The District Government Attorney's Office had filed cases at the District Court, Kathmandu against the accused on May 24, based on the report submitted by the police in connection to the scandal. Cases have been filed against 30 people for their involvement in the scandal.

They include former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, former Deputy Prime Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, Dr. Indrajeet Rai who was the security advisor to the former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rizal, among others.

They have been charged with fraud, cheating, organized crime, and treason. The District Attorney's Office has demanded imprisonment against and recovering Rs.288 million 100 thousand from the accused. Twelve accused in this case are still absconding.

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