Kathmandu, March 11: Nepal Police has arrested a man accused of being involved in a fake rescue scam targeting foreign trekkers in Nepal’s high Himalayan regions.
According to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), 50-year-old Pasang Sherpa from Solududhkunda Municipality–1, originally from Sindhupalchok District, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly claiming insurance money by staging fake rescue operations involving foreign tourists.
CIB spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police Shiv Kumar Shrestha, said Sherpa allegedly prepared fake documents through Panorama Himalaya Trekking and Expedition Pvt. Ltd. to fraudulently claim insurance payouts by falsely showing that foreign trekkers suffering health problems during trekking had been rescued.
Nepal Police have launched massive investigation on fake rescue cases and arrested several people after repeated call of misappropriation from different victims and institution including insurance companies.
Police said investigations revealed that the accused fabricated documents and submitted them to claim insurance compensation.
Authorities added that earlier 10 tourism entrepreneurs and hospital operators had also been arrested in connection with similar fake rescue activities.
Police have charged Sherpa under Section 51 of the National Penal Code 2017 for acts against national interest and under the Organized Crime Control Act 2074 BS.
The CIB said Sherpa has been remanded into custody with permission from the Kathmandu District Court, and further investigation into the case is ongoing. #nepal #rescue
