Nepal Police handed Choi Won Sop and Sun Hack Dal over to the Department of Immigration on Sunday following their release on a normal date by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu on Friday. [break]
Police acting on a complaint by the North Korean embassy in Kathmandu had arrested the South Koreans three weeks ago on a public offence charge to investigate into their involvement in the disappearance of Yang Hyok Kae, a purported restaurant operator.
"We handed them over to the immigration department after confirming that they took Yang to India," said officials involved in the investigation.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Ramesh Kharel, chief of Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu, told Republica that the South Koreans were handed over for investigation in connection with their possible violation of immigration laws.
Officials who requested anonymity said the South Koreans had admitted during interrogations that they took Yang to the South Korean embassy in New Delhi in India where the latter could have been granted help to find asylum in South Korea. "We have confirmed that Yang has already reached South Korea," an official said.
New details have it that Choi and Sun both did not get Indian visas to travel together with Yang up to New Delhi. They had sneaked into India through Raxaul entry point. "This is purely a human trafficking case," officials said.
Director General of the Department of Immigration Narayan Sanjel said that the South Koreans would be investigated on all aspects of violation of immigration laws. "As investigation has just started, I cannot say much but it initially appears to be a human trafficking case. If that is proven, they could be deported," he added.
Choi had produced his passport with valid visa during investigation and Sun failed to furnish it even when he was charge-sheeted. Both had been living in Nepal for more than 10 years with their Nepali wives.
The defection of Yang more than a month ago had triggered diplomatic outcry among North Korean officials in the capital. They had pressed both the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affaris (MOFA) to prosecute the South Koreans on kidnapping charge.
Yang had come to Nepal in December 2009 and started operating one Kumgangsam Korean Restaurant on the top floor of the Woodlands Business Complex at Durbarmarg nine months ago. After he fell out with the complex owner in connection with rental agreement, North Korean embassy officials had brokered peace between them. One official who identified himself as third secretary at the embassy was even said to have been involved in monetary negotiations.
Yang was also known to be a fraudster owing around Rs 7 million to several Nepali businessmen who, however, did not bother to file complaint with the police.
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