Kathmandu Police on Monday evening arrested the 55-year-old from Sangri-La Hotel at Lazimpat where he showed up to meet Alexander Boris, son of the late Boris Lisanevich, in connection with his debts to the latter of over Rs 10 million. [break]
Police held him after he failed to pay Boris. A fraud charge as per the banking laws has been brought against him on the basis of three bounced checks worth Rs 9.6 million in total that he had issued to Boris.
Son of a Burmese and a Canadian who settled in Nepal and took up Nepali citizenships, he has been projecting a mysterious image in different realms of Nepali society. Often seen in the company of senior political leaders, he would present himself as one who held a sway in political equations.
Jailed for about six months toward the end of the Panchayat regime along with his family on allegations of acting ‘in uncalled for ways’ as a Christian missionary, he seems to have shifted his persona to politics and time and again tried to show he had a hand in vital political changes.
Mendies would even identify himself as a CIA agent and, given his several US-based connections, this was well believed at Nepali power centers.
Mendies would run an NGO, ‘Youth Corps’, for Christians. He even represented the Prayer Breakfast Program of the US Congress for four years before being removed for reportedly misusing it. He would recommend Nepali participants for the program.
Mendies always had a classy life-style, staying in the most expensive suites at five star hotels and flying business class. He would also throw parties for friends and their families on different occasions, all of which added to his profile.
“He owes millions of rupees to hotels and airlines,” said an entrepreneur who befriended him for a long time.
To keep up his lifestyle, Mendies would lean on close friends--particularly entrepreneurs and bankers.
“He also exploited me and I am yet to even my accounts with him,” said Rajendra Bajagain, a tourism entrepreneur. “He is so nice to make friends with initially as he does not give out any signs about his ultimate goal.’’
Political troublemaker
The same Mendies would hang out with Hollywood superstar Richard Gere, who frequents Nepal with his pro-Tibetan agenda. He also met Professor Wang, the Chinese scholar of Nepali politics who is loyal to the Chinese establishment.
“The Chinese government showed concern when Mendies arranged a meeting between Gere and some ministers a few years ago,” said a home ministry official requesting anonymity.”He would also visit the Dalai Lama in India.” Lately though, he has reportedly not been on good terms with Gere.
In his latest endeavor to spread his influence, Mendies opened the Sangam Studio for Policy Analysis and Strategic Studies. Two and a half years later it faltered. He has shut down the entity, leaving behind a pile of dues to several employees and others.
Mendies was arrested within a week after returning from Fiji. Boris had lodged a complaint against him three months ago and police started looking for him.
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