Kathmandu, October 12
Police have expanded their investigation into a scam involving promises of sending people to Israel for caregiver jobs, adding organised crime charges against those arrested.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) initially investigated the suspects on fraud charges. However, after further investigation revealed the alleged involvement of additional people and indications that the scheme was operated in an organised manner, police added the organised crime offence.
CIB spokesperson and Senior Superintendent of Police Anupam Shamsher JB Rana confirmed that the investigation was being conducted under organised crime charges as well. The charge allows police to keep suspects in custody for up to 60 days for investigation.
The CIB has arrested five people in connection with the case so far. They are Nepali Congress leader Bharat Prasad Chaulagain, Balika Shiwakoti of Dolakha, Gyan Bahadur Karki, Shivaram Shrestha and Binita Khadka, a candidate for the Nepali Congress central committee.
The group is accused of collecting money from people who had passed caregiver examinations under an agreement between the governments of Nepal and Israel, allegedly promising to expedite their departure by claiming connections with an adviser to the prime minister.
The allegations are under investigation.
