CIAA to probe 14 kg gold smuggling case

Published On: January 4, 2024 07:00 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Jan 4: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is set to probe the case involving the seizure of 14 kg of gold at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

The Office of the Attorney General, Kathmandu has instructed the Customs Office to send the file to the CIAA in the case of the seizure of gold and the alleged involvement of government employees.

The Customs Office filed a case at the District Court of Kathmandu on the charge of gold smuggling on Wednesday.

While writing the letter to prosecute the case in the same file, the Office of the Attorney General, Kathmandu has instructed to send the file to the CIAA “as it appears that some government employees are also involved in corruption.”

An investigation by the Customs Office revealed that the employees of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) were also involved in gold smuggling. The Office of the Attorney General has given an opinion to send the file to the CIAA saying that the employees of the CAAN Radhakrishna Shrestha, Lek Bahadur Tamang, Ramesh Deula, Anil Shrestha, Sher Bahadur Basnet are involved in gold smuggling.

With the complaint submitted to the district court, it has been stated that, “They have been involved in activities related to theft of gold by taking bribe from Dan Bahadur Gurung aka DB, so for further investigation, the defendants are also requested to send a letter to the CIAA,”

Narhari Ghimire, the spokesperson of the CIAA, says that the CIAA will take the matter as a complaint and proceed with the investigation. He says, “Until now, the CIAA has not made a decision about it. As soon as the decision file arrives, the commission will proceed with the investigation.” The TIA Customs Office seized 14 kg of gold from Chandra Ghale, who came to Kathmandu from Fly Dubai on the night of December 7, 2023. He brought seven gold biscuits concealed in a jacket’s pocket and stated that he had brought gold as per Min Bahadur Ghale's instructions.

Min Bahadur took the name of Dan Bahadur Gurung and stated that he made arrangements inside the airport. It is mentioned in the charge sheet that the involvement of CAAN’s employees was also found in that process.